Decorative Packaging

May is Lupus Awareness month Purple is the awareness ribbon color that is associated with Lupus Awareness.  It is very important to raise awareness for Lupus.  We know two people personally with Lupus and it took forever to diagnose them with it and get proper treatment.  No two cases are alike.  More research is needed to help diagnose more quickly.  Just 20 years ago, only 40 percent of people with lupus were expected to live more than 3 years following a diagnosis. Now, with earlier diagnosis, the latest therapies, and careful monitoring, most people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.   There are many other awareness causes that are associated with the purple ribbon.

• Domestic violence, religious tolerance, animal abuse, victims of 9/11, pancreatic cancer, Crohn’s Disease and colitis, systic fibrosis, Leimyosarcoma, macular degeneration, Sjogren’s Syndrome, fibromyalgia, lupus, Sarcoidosis, the homeless, Mucolipidoses, thyroid cancer, ADD, ADHD, Alzheimers, cancer survivors in general,

Did you know…? Lupus—is a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease. Estimates indicate that more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Most are young women of childbearing age, and suffer from such symptoms as intense fatigue and exhaustion, joint pains, thinking and memory problems, and skin rashes. No two cases of lupus are alike. Some people develop kidney problems, for example, while others get premature heart disease and others still suffer from strokes or develop lung inflammation. There is no known cause or cure for lupus. No new treatments have been approved for lupus in 50 years, and the treatments currently available can often be toxic and more damaging than the disease itself. Lupus Research Institute and other scientists continue to investigate lupus, and are finally coming closer to finding answers. They’re not only asking basic questions about why lupus happens—why the immune system becomes hyperactive and turns on the body it is supposed to defend from harm—but they’re asking things like…

• how does lupus happen?
• why do so many more women than men get lupus?
• why does lupus sometimes flare, and sometimes go into remission?
• why do so many more women of color develop lupus—and suffer such severe complications and a higher risk of death from the disease?
• what can be done to speed along clinical trials and find new treatments?

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon

Saturday, April 16^th will be the 20^th anniversary for the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure!  Last year there were 40,000 participants out to show their support and raise awareness for the need for a cure for breast cancer.

This is an annual 5K run/walk.  Indiana is proud to say that this event is one of its largest non-profit events.  This event is to raise funds for education, and screening and support services in 21 Indiana counties.

Register to participate, pick up a packet and a shirt and don’t forget to wear your breast cancer awareness ribbon. Make some extra ribbon bows to share with your friends and the new friends you will meet.  You can register from 9am to 7pm on the IUPUI Warehouse to get your stuff and shop for logo clothes.

You can register on line and pick up your stuff the day of the race.

They are encouraging each participant to do a fundraiser of $10.00 from ten friends.

I guess I should put a disclaimer to today’s post. There is an article saying that there is no such thing as “special education week” supposedly it is just another FB rumor debunked.  However, I don’t care if it is or is not a national awareness day, it is an important topic and there should be a day set aside to raise awareness for it.  It is Brain Injury Awareness Month so that ties in to today topic. Silver is the color of the satin awareness ribbon for Brain injury awareness.

Special education had such a stigma 20 years ago. It automatically caused people to think of severely physically and mentally handicapped children.  The truth is that Special education means so much more.

A child that receives help from special education services in the public school system can need minimal help over all but small changes in the environment in which they learn to help them succeed. It is called special education because it requires special instructions.  The child can still learn the same information, and in many cases, the child is above average intelligence but processes information differently.

Schools still employ staff for those needing extreme help. And the great news is that it is now possible to individualize a plan for any student in need of help.  Education is the key. Awareness, understanding and compassion are needed in helping these children in the school system to help with bullies, self-esteem, and overall confidence that they can succeed.

Special education services can help students with emotional, physical, development, brain injury disorders.  Testing has to be done through the school, and dr. recommendations help them design a plan for any student that may need help in any learning area.

In the past, all the students that needed special help were all isolated away from the general students and had no clue how to interact with the rest.  Todays, a special student is, for the most part, involved in mainstream class activity but with little helps.  Maybe it is the help of an aide, or resources available.

Please educate yourself, and teach your children not to bully those that appear different.

March is Brain Injury Awareness month.   This is a broad category that includes many of these types of brain disorders such as but not limited to Brain Disabilities, Brain Disorders, Campaign for the Brain, Disabled Children, Dyslexia, Elderly Abuse, Encephalitis, Niemann-Pick, Parkinson’s Disease, Schizophrenia, Sciatic Pain, VACTERL, Young Onset Parkinson’s Association (YOPA)

A simple concussion as a child can cause a brain disorder that may not be clearly diagnosed for years.  Kids are so active, toddlers are little dare devils and it seems that as parents we should put helmets on them because they are always falling down or bouncing off of things.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is called the silent epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because so many cases go undiagnosed. This is particularly a problem since there are students with TBI that are unidentified and struggling to do well in school.  How likely is it that you have a student with an undiagnosed TBI?

There is a Silver Awareness Ribbon Campaign for the Brain, which promotes a public awareness of the need for emotional, social, governmental, and research support of these individuals.  Increasing public awareness will decrease the social stigma and increase support to result in improved treatment and eventual cures for all those affected.

All throughout the world, there are hundreds of millions of individuals and their families have been impacted by the consequences of brain disorders and related disabilities.

Will you wear a silver awareness ribbon and help raise awareness for this very important cause? It can be a woven ribbon, or a personalized ribbon with the cause or even the individuals name.   Educate yourself on the symptoms, If you see a stressed out parent, why not give them a smile, or a prayer, instead of a look of disgust because they seem to have a child that is out of control or different.  Things are not always what they seem.

March Awareness Ribbon Causes for 2011

It is very easy to bring awareness to causes that are important to you.  Just wear an awareness ribbon in the color of your cause.  Wearing an awareness ribbon is an invitation to start a conversation.  Have you ever seen people wearing ribbons, and you did not know why?  They want you to ask them about it.  This way, they are not forcing their opinions on you, and you are genuinely curious about why they chose that cause.

An awareness ribbon is simply a satin ribbon folded in a loop like above and pinned to your shirt. You can use any type of ribbon.  A little research can show you the color you need for the cause you wish to bring awareness to.  Be sure to educate your self on your awareness cause so you can direct the people to places to either find help, or donate to a secure foundation

Diabetes is an important issue to me because I have lost several family members to is affects on the body.  Be informed and get educated on all they ways you can help you self with diabetes if you already have it or prevent it if you do not.

Below is a list of National Awareness causes for March

1 – 31 - National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

1 – 31 - National Nutrition Month®

1 – 31 - Trisomy Awareness Month

6 – 12  -Patient Safety Awareness Week

7 – 12-  National School Breakfast Week

11  -World Kidney Day

20 – 26  -National Poison Prevention Week

25  -American Diabetes Alert Day

1 – 31-  National Endometriosis Awareness Month

1 – 31  -Save Your Vision Month

1 – 31 - Workplace Eye Wellness Month

7 – 13 - National Sleep Awareness Week®

10-  National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

14 – 20 – Brain Awareness Week

20-  National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

24 - World Tuberculosis Day

27 – April 2  National Tsunami Awareness Week

February is heart Disease awareness month.
Red is the awareness ribbon color for Heart and Cardiovascular Disease.

Wearing A little awareness ribbon with a big message is great way to show your support and promote awareness!!

Red is also the awareness color for HIV, AIDS , DUI, DARE, Lymphoma, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Substance Abuse, Cardiovascular Disease, Congenital Heart Defects, Courage and Inspiration, Heart Disease, Hemophilia, High Blood Pressure, Huffing, Hypertension, Love, Substance Abuse, Stroke, and Tuberculosis.
Give the gift of Hope and Support! Get out and be active, get involved in fundraisers like Relay for Life walks and other awareness events. Proudly wear a red awareness ribbon to show support for your cause.

The Best Protection is Early Detection. See a Physician regularly.

Heart disease takes the life of 1 in 3 women each year – more than the next six causes of death combined, amounting to nearly 550,000 lives lost every year. In truth, although 1 in 29 women die from breast cancer, 1 in 2.4 die from heart disease – yet most women still view cancer as their biggest health threat.

Here is a list of causes that are making their awareness’s the focus in February 2011.
Click on the name of the cause awareness to see what products Support Store has to help you spread the word.
Heart Awareness Month
Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week (begins February 7th)
Eating Disorder Awareness Week (begins February 20th)
World Cancer Day (February 4th)
Wear Red Day (February 6th)
Organ Donor Awareness Day (February 14th)
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day (February 14th)
Valentine’s Day (February 14th)

January is Sanctity of Life Awareness Month

There are so many Awareness Ribbons that could be worn to show support for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.  Wearing a pink or blue ribbon with babies feet on them would be sure to start a conversation about why you were wearing it.  Then you can share your view with them.

Many organizations that support and raise awareness for birth defects like March of Dimes have their own ribbon color they use to show unity for the cause and help raise awareness.  Raising awareness for a cause means starting a conversation, directing a person to resources to find help in coping, or the right health care for the situation.

Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday with us!

Since 1983, many Americans have observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday as a day to celebrate the intrinsic value of all human life. Twenty-seven years ago, President Ronald Reagan was asked to create a special day to focus on the intrinsic value of human life and the very fundamental right to life, as recognized by the American founding fathers. In 1983, President Reagan issued a proclamation establishing that day. This year, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is January 23, the closet Sunday to the day which Roe vs. Wade was handed down by the US Supreme Court (January 22, 1973).

This is a list of awareness ribbon causes for January 2011.



With approximately 11,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer every year it’s becoming more and more important that women of all ages and from all walks of life raise their awareness of this debilitating cancer and work to prevent it. Cervical cancer kills 4,000 women a year in the United States alone and in some developing countries it still ranks as a leading cause of death among women.

The awareness ribbon for January’s Cervical Health Awareness Month is teal on one side and white on the other. By participating this year you can help raise awareness of this serious cancer and provide inspiration and strength for cervical cancer sufferers. The families, friends and loved ones of those stricken with the disease can also find hope and inspiration in your participation. Let the people in your life know that you care about preventing and overcoming one of the most damaging types of cancer in the world.

December Awareness Ribbon Causes

Wearing Awareness Ribbons are an easy way to start conversations about a cause that is important to you.  December has several causes that have chosen it to be their month to raise awareness.

The Awareness Ribbon image in this post is a ribbon chosen by the   National Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.

Below the post is a detailed description of Aplastic Anemia gathered from the foundations web site.

Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow slows down or stops the production of red and white blood cells and platelets. This can cause an increased risk of infection and symptoms of chronic fatigue and increased bleeding. The cause of this remains unknown in some patients but has been linked to toxins and infectious diseases.

Aplastic anemia can only be confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy in which a sample is taken from the pelvic bone. There are two commonly used treatment methods which involve immune suppressive therapy or a bone marrow transplant. While aplastic anemia was once deemed fatal, it is now manageable and even treatable for some patients.

November 2007
Sources: Health Day and Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation