Unite for Pediatric Stroke: Raising Awareness Across the Globe

May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month, and big efforts are underway to address stroke in the smallest patients!

The month kicks off with World Pediatric Stroke Awareness Week (#WPSAW), May 7 – 13. Visit the World Pediatric Stroke Association website to find events and other ways you can participate in raising awareness during the week, and all month long.

Next, don’t miss the exciting new United4PediatricStroke campaign! In honor of Stroke Awareness Month 2016, pediatric stroke advocacy organizations worldwide have joined together to create a campaign dedicated to supporting pediatric stroke awareness across the globe.

Check out the campaign website to find out how your child can put his story on the map — literally — and connect with young stroke patients around the globe while spreading the word that a stroke can happen at any age.

Here are some ways you can participate:

• BE VISIBLE: Share your story to help put pediatric stroke on the map! By writing and sharing your child’s story, you can help raise awareness, build connections and inspire hope. Whether you’re looking to help other families, or seeking comfort and reassurance that can be found in knowing you’re not alone in your journey, we encourage you to explore these stories and add yours to the map. Your child can “pin” his name, location and stroke story on an interactive world map of young stroke patients.
• BE HEARD: Announce your support for pediatric stroke awareness by adding purple to your profile picture on Facebook or Twitter. Use the hashtags #WPSAW #united4pediatricstroke and #mystrokestory to get the message out on various social media platforms. Participate in community events and sign up for educational webinars. There is no limit to what you can do to make your voice be heard!
• UNITE FOR CHANGE: Make an impact that can lead to change for the pediatric stroke population by learning and sharing medically-trusted information with your networks. The campaign offers an array of resources to share. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #united4pediatricstroke to spread the word and raise awareness.

There are so many ways to get involved this May — and all year round — to educate the global community about pediatric stroke.

As parents and caregivers, you know that advocacy for pediatric stroke cannot be limited to one month. You advocate for your child each day — from working with school to create the best education plan and balancing a busy schedule of therapies to everything in between. Every time you share your family’s story, you raise awareness that strokes can and do happen to children and babies.

We hope these campaigns inspire you to keep using your voice!