How the AMF community moved against migraine in 2018
This year, the American Migraine Foundation has been unwavering in our commitment to provide patients with doctor-verified information and lend an ear for those living with this debilitating disease. Our network of patients, advocates and doctors continues to grow each and every day, creating a collective voice for the migraine community. Together, we’ve made significant strides and show no sign of stopping.
Here’s what we’ve accomplished in 2018, and what it means for the community.
Advocating at the 2018 Headache on the Hill
Organized by AMF Partner the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, the 11th annual Headache on the Hill gave participants the stage to share their experiences with migraine, headache and other disorders that cause severe pain. The two-day event brought a record-breaking 145 patients, specialists and advocates to Washington D.C. to lobby for better access to care.
Participating in National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
The AMF joined forces with our partners and others in the migraine community to broaden the reach of our migraine advocacy efforts during National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. This year’s theme was “You Are Not Alone,” and the Foundation collected and shared stories and hosted Facebook Live events to remind our community that more than 37 million people empathize and relate.
Standing up Against the “Migraine Pose”
After Elle magazine published an article about the “Migraine Pose,” the AMF wrote an open letter to Elle’s Editor-in-Chief calling for the publication to help us spread the word about migraine. The migraine community also helped push back against stigma and misconceptions by sharing personal photos and stories with the hashtag #TrueMigrainePose.
Starting the Conversation on Giving Tuesday
On Giving Tuesday, the AMF decided to give our community a tool to start the conversation about migraine. We worked with real patient advocates and people living with migraine to create this moving video about the reality of migraine. The video was shared by countless members of our community and has since been watched more than 13,000 times.
Connecting the Migraine Community with Webinars and Facebook Lives
The AMF’s goal is to give patients the tools to advocate for themselves. The Foundation hosted more than 30 Facebook Live events and started a series of webinars designed to educate patients on timely migraine topics. From Q&A sessions about the new anti-CGRP treatments to discussions about migraine advocacy, our efforts shared important information with thousands of viewers each week.
While 2018 ushered us into the golden age of headache medicine, we still have miles to go in order to expand access to care and improve patient education. Join us by donating to our cause that has the ability to impact the millions of Americans living with migraine. Your gift will help us continue to advance migraine research, promote patient advocacy and expand access to care for patients worldwide.
We know that some of you may not be in a position to give. If you’re unable to contribute, please take a few minutes to share our video and your migraine story with your network. Educating the world about the impact of migraine is key to countering stigma—and knowledge is the most valuable resource we have.
Together we are as relentless as migraine.
