The SMA community officially recognizes August as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, an effort that Cure SMA has been coordinating since 1996. Throughout August, the community works together to raise the general public’s awareness of SMA by hosting candlelight vigils, contacting their local legislature, holding fundraisers, coordinating MLB awareness games, and providing information to local medical professionals.
While our community works year-round to raise awareness of and funds for SMA, August is great time to spotlight these efforts.
Ways to Get Involved
There are numerous ways to raise awareness. Below are just a few examples of the many ways to get involved this August.
- Flyer your neighborhood
- Organize a candlelight vigil
- Reach out to your local and state legislatures: ask them to proclaim August as SMA Awareness Month
- Attend one of the many MLB Awareness Games
Advocacy Visits
As part of our Newborn Screening Grassroots Advocacy Campaign, Cure SMA is encouraging and helping to coordinate advocacy visits with elected officials throughout the month of August.
The goal is to draw further attention to the urgent need for SMA newborn screening at both the national and state levels. View our advocacy visit infographic for more information on how to contact your representatives and how to set up a visit.
You can also find more newborn screening resources on our website.
Social Media Outreach
Throughout this year’s SMA Awareness Month, we’ve got a few fun and impactful things planned to raise awareness on social media.
- Weekly Wednesday morning ‘Sharing’ videos, where members of the community share with us their experiences and point of view.
- Twibbon campaign: change your profile picture to include the SMA Awareness Month banner
- SMA Community Facebook Album
Participate in our SMA Community Album on Facebook
Through the entirety of August, please send us photos of what SMA awareness means to you. It could be a photo of the person who inspires you, a photo taken during an event or activity (like candlelighting or advocacy visits), or even an abstract representation of awareness, our community or your family. Your imagination is the limit!
To submit photos, post directly to our Facebook wall, or post on your wall, tag Cure SMA and include the hashtag #cureSMA (be sure we aren’t blocked from seeing your personal page due to privacy settings). You can also submit photos by emailing [email protected] with “SMA Community Album” as the subject line. We’ll be adding and sharing photos all month long!
MLB Awareness Games
August 5, 2017 – Tampa Bay Rays
August 5, 2017 – Colorado Rockies
August 6, 2017 – Portland Sea Dogs
August 12, 2017 – Milwaukee Brewers
August 13, 2017 – Lowell Spinners
August 13, 2017 – Miami Marlins
August 19, 2017 – San Diego Padres
August 20, 2017 – Hartford Yard Goats
August 20, 2017 – Baltimore Orioles
August 27, 2017 – Arizona Diamondbacks