#AutoimmuneHeroes 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.
In honoring Kellie Martin (@kelliemartin), AARDA cites her nearly two decades of dedication to the organization, serving as its celebrity spokesperson, participating in countless media interviews, speaking at public forums, headlining special events, advocating on Capitol Hill, filming public service announcements and enlisting her friends and family to support the cause.
AARDA salutes actress Haley Ramm (@halesbells) and her mother Barbara Ramm (@BarbeeVintage), an autoimmune disease patient herself, for their intense commitment, spearheading the first-ever Los Angeles Autoimmune Walk which raised over $100,000 for research and awareness in its inaugural year. In addition, Haley enlisted the cast of ABC Family鈥檚 Chasing Life to have a pillow fight in pajamas on camera to raise awareness of the link between fatigue and autoimmune disease.
鈥漌e at AARDA are immensely fortunate to have the pleasure of working with these three intelligent, talented and passionate women, all of whom continually work to raise awareness of autoimmunity and autoimmune disease to make life better for the 50 million Americans who suffer from these diseases and their families,鈥� said Virginia Ladd, founder and executive director, AARDA (@AARDATweets). 鈥淲e cannot thank these autoimmune heroes enough.鈥�
Most recently Kellie and Haley joined forces to launch AARDA鈥檚 #25for25 fundraising campaign.#25for25 invites individuals and organizations the world over to recognize AARDA鈥檚 achievements on behalf of people with autoimmune disease and support its work going forward by donating $25 to the organization (www.aarda.org).
Each month for the next 12 months, AARDA will be announcing its #AutoimmuneHeroes. Over the last 25 years, these heroes 鈥� both individuals and organizations 鈥� 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.
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes Autoimmune Hero Kellie Martin in recognition for her鈥�
飪� devotion and commitment to AARDA by serving nearly two decades as its celebrity spokesperson, helping bring national attention to autoimmune disease and the realities autoimmune disease patients and their families face every day.
飪� participation in hundreds of media interviews, telling her family鈥檚 personal experience with autoimmune disease 鈥� the untimely death of her 19 year-old sister Heather from an undiagnosed case of lupus 鈥� raising awareness of autoimmune disease and the 50 million Americans afflicted with them.
飪� generous donations of time and talent over the years, whether speaking at public forums, advocating on behalf of patients on Capitol Hill, headlining autoimmune walks and special events, filming public service campaigns and video messages, and enlisting her friends and family to help support the cause.
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association Salutes Autoimmune Heroes Haley and Barbara Ramm in recognition for their鈥�
飪� immediate willingness to not only share Barbara鈥檚 personal autoimmune disease story with relapsing polychondritis, but by rolling up their sleeves to find out how they could help AARDA achieve its mission and help other autoimmune patients.
飪� spearheading in a few short months the tremendously successful first-ever Los Angeles Autoimmune Walk and raising more than $100,000 dollars for research and awareness in its inaugural year.
飪� strong leadership abilities, from Haley鈥檚 enlisting the cast of ABC Family鈥檚 Chasing Life to have a pillow fight in pajamas on camera to raise awareness of the link between fatigue and autoimmune disease and sharing it via numerous social media channels to Barbara鈥檚 pulling together a diverse team of people to bring the Los Angeles Walk to fruition.
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.
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