FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AARDA SALUTES SEPTEMBER #AUTOIMMUNE HERO FOR PROVIDING A STRONG, COLLABORATIVE VOICE FOR THE 50 MILLION AMERICANS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
Newswise — DETROIT, September 30, 2016 – American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) announced today its newest Autoimmune Heroes – the 39 autoimmune disease specific patient groups who comprise the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups (NCAPG).
Created and facilitated by AARDA, the NCAPG and its members advocate tireless on key issues – patient safety, step therapy, access to medicine, the Affordable Care Act – that impact the 50 million Americans who suffer from one or more of the 100+ known autoimmune diseases. These member organizations include:
•American Behçet’s Disease Association (www.behcets.com)•Autoimmune Hepatitis Association (www.aihep.org)•American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org)•American Vitiligo Research Foundation (www.avrf.org)•APS Foundation of America (www.apsfa.org)•Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org)•Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance (www.aealliance.org)•Beyond Celiac (www.celiaccentral.org)•Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org)•Celiac Sprue Association (www.csaceliacs.org)•Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (www.ccfa.org)•Dysautonomia International (www.dysautonomiainternational.org)•Endometriosis Association (www.endometrosisassn.org)•Gluten Intolerance Group (www.gluten.net)•Graves’ Disease & Thyroid Foundation (www.ngdf.org)•Immune Deficiency Foundation (www.primaryimmune.org)•International Foundation of Autoimmune Arthritis (www.iaamovement.org)•International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation (www.pemphigus.org)•Lupus Foundation of America (www.lupus.org)•Lupus and Allied Diseases Association (www.nolupus.org)•Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (www.myasthenia.org)•Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois (www.myastheniagravis.org)•National Adrenal Diseases Foundation (www.nadf.us)•National Alopecia Areata Foundation (www.naaf.org)•National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org)•National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nmss.org)•National Psoriasis Foundation (www.psoriasis.org)•National Sleep Foundation (www.sleepfoundation.org)•PANDAS Network.org (www.pandasnetwork.org)•Platelet Disorder Support Association (www.pdsa.org)•Relapsing Polychondritis Awareness and Support Foundation (www.polychondritis.org)•Scleroderma Foundation (www.scleroderma.org)•Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation (www.sjogrens.org)•The Myositis Association (www.myositis.org)•Transverse Myelitis Association (www.myelitis.org)•US Pain Foundation, Inc. (www.uspainfoundation.org)•Vasculitis Foundation (www.vasculitisfoundation.org)•Vitiligo Support International (www.vitiligosupport.org)
Part of its yearlong 25th anniversary celebration, AARDA’s #AutoimmuneHeroes campaign recognizes the work of individuals and organizations that have advanced the autoimmune disease agenda in the areas of research, patient safety, advocacy, public education and awareness, service and volunteerism, among others.
“We are extremely proud that our vision for the National Coalition of Autoimmune Patient Groups has far exceeded our expectations and that is largely due to the committed and collaborative spirit of our 39 member organizations,” said Virginia Ladd, founder and executive director, AARDA (@AARDATweets). “By understanding there is strength in numbers and speaking out on the issues with a unified voice, the NCAPG members have made a tremendous impact on increasing autoimmune education, awareness, research and patient safety.”
Each month during its anniversary year, AARDA will be announcing its #AutoimmuneHeroes. Over the last 25 years, these heroes – both individuals and organizations – have proved critical to helping AARDA become the national organization it is today, while positively impacting the lives of the 50 million Americans with AD and their families.
In addition, AARDA also launched this year its #25for25 fundraising campaign. It invites individuals and organizations the world over to recognize AARDA’s achievements on behalf of people with autoimmune disease and support its work going forward by donating $25 to the organization (www.aarda.org).
About American Autoimmune Related Diseases AssociationCelebrating its 25th anniversary, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation's only non-profit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women's health issue, and promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases. For more information, please visit www.aarda.org.
Follow us on social media, including:Facebook (www.facebook.com/Autoimmunity)Twitter (@AARDATweets)YouTube (www.youtube.com/AARDATube)
CONTACT: Cindy Carway/Stephanie HornbackCarway Communications, Inc.212-378-2020[email protected]@CarwayComms
RSS