World Blood Donor Day 

“What can you do?”

Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day.

The event serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. This year’s campaign will focus on blood donation in emergencies. In any crisis or emergency situation, the natural human response is “What can I do? How can I help?” therefore, the slogan for the 2017 campaign is: “What can you do?” with the secondary message “Give blood. Give now. Give often”.

The campaign underlines the role every single person can play in helping others in emergency situations, by giving the valuable gift of blood.

“Blood donation is important as the lives and health of millions of people are affected by emergencies every year. In the last decade, disasters have caused more than 1 million deaths, with more than 250 million people being affected by emergencies every year.”

Get involved this June by:

• Donating blood
• Organising a fundraiser
• Volunteering with the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit: http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-blood-donor-day/2017/event/en/

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2017

Infant Mental Health Awareness Week is an international initiative during 12th – 16th June that invites Government, industry and consumers to consider the distinct needs of babies and toddlers and to invest in the critical services that support the first thousand days (conception to age 2).

“This is due to the critical window of development that takes place in the first 1000 days where 80% of a child’s brain is developed. Relationships are crucial to babies during this period and are the building blocks for good mental health in childhood and throughout life.”

Take action this June by:

• Donating to the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Showing support in the local community
• Organising your own fundraiser

For more information, visit: http://www.infantmentalhealthweek.org.au/

Heart Rhythm Week 2017

Heart Rhythm Week is an initiative designed to secure early diagnosis and improve outcomes for the many millions of people across the globe affected by arrhythmias.

This year’s World Heart Rhythm Week focus is ‘Identifying the Undiagnosed Person’. Arrhythmias is the abnormal beating of one’s heart and can lead to severe consequences such as a lack of blood circulation around the body.

“Arrhythmias are responsible for between 23,000 and 33,000 sudden cardiac  deaths each year, many of which could be avoided with greater public awareness of their risks and symptoms.”

Get involved this June by:

• Volunteering
• Donating to the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Share your story
• Hold an event

For more information, visit: http://www.aa-international.org/au/heart%20rhythm%20week

The awareness month is designed to raise support and awareness of Cytomegalovirus.

Cytomegalovirus, commonly referred to as CMV, is a member of the herpesvirus family. It is common and typically harmless to the general population; however, once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life. It is important to note that the CMV virus can cause serious problems for people with weak immune systems due to organ transplants, HIV/AIDS infection, chemotherapy, and specific medications.

“1 in 150 children are born with congenital CMV each year.”

Get involved this June by:

• Donating to the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Fundraising
• Becoming a sponsor
• Volunteering

For more information, visit: https://www.nationalcmv.org/

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an annual initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia running throughout the month of June (1-30 June), to raise public awareness of the disease.

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia affecting both men and women almost equally and is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer after lung cancer.

“Bowel cancer claims the lives of 80 Australians every week.”

Fight bowel cancer this June by:

• Donating to the foundation
• Getting a self – awareness ribbon
• Organising a fundraiser
• Connecting with the bowel cancer movement on social media
• Distributing awareness posters and merchandise

For more information, visit: http://www.bowelcancerawarenessmonth.org/

World MS day is an opportunity to raise awareness about MS and to strengthen the network of people living with MS across the world. The theme in 2017 will be ‘Life with MS’, looking specifically at quality of life for people with MS and those close to them.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

MS affects over 23,000 in Australia and more than two million diagnosed worldwide.

Make a change this May by:

• Organising a fundraiser
• Raising awareness on social media
• Informing the community of the symptoms of MS
• Donating
• Volunteering

For more information, visit: https://www.msaustralia.org.au/

23 – 29 May 2017

International Thyroid Awareness Week provides an opportunity to spread the word about Thyroid disease, and importantly educate the community about what preventative measures can be taken in order to minimise the impact.

“The most recent research in Australia has shown that around 14% of older Australians suffer from a clinically relevant thyroid disorder with 4% having an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.”

Get involved this May by:

• Making a donation
• Fundraising
• Raising awareness on social media
• Informing family and friends of the symptoms

For more information, visit: https://www.thyroidfoundation.org.au/

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is an initiative organised to raise awareness and community spirit regarding cancer. Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a chance for Australians to get together and raise money for a great cause. One dollar at a time you are making a real difference helping to fund Cancer Council’s vital research, prevention and support service programs.

“1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85”

Get involved this May by:

• Donating to the foundation
• Organising your own morning tea
• Raising awareness on social media
• Buying merchandise
• Becoming a corporate partner

For more information, visit: https://biggestmorningtea.com.au/

Macular Degeneration Week is an annual event designed to raise awareness of macular degeneration and to encourage those most at risk, people over 50, to have their eyes tested and macula checked. Macular degeneration is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces.

“Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and major vision loss in Australia.”

Get involved this May by:

• Informing the community
• Educating yourself and others about the issue
• Raising awareness on social media
• Volunteering
• Donating to the foundation

For more information, visit: http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/default.aspx

Schizophrenia Awareness Week (SAW), 15-21 May, aims to raise community awareness of schizophrenia and addresses the stigma attached to schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Schizophrenia is a major mental illness that causes an altered experience of reality.                                    

“In Australia, approximately 1 in 100 people have or will develop schizophrenia during their lifetime and it is usually life-long.”

Here is an opportunity to get involved this May by:

• Volunteering with the foundation
• Organising a fundraiser
• Raising awareness on social media
• Informing family and friends of the symptoms
• Donating

For more information, visit: http://www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au/