Help lift the clouds over migraine - sign the Petition please, photo ©2012

First, if you and your family and friends have not yet signed the AHDA’s (Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy) petition for Congressional hearings on migraine and other headache disorders, please, please, please do so now. The deadline is March 27 and the goal is a modest 20,000 signatures — a small number considering an estimated 36 million people in the U.S. alone have migraine.

Teri Robert has created FAQs about the petition, but there should be no questions — it is brief, simple, and takes very little time to do. Congressional hearings could further all the efforts of migraine advocacy — understanding, additional research and improved treatments for migraine. So please, just do it. And then ask all your friends and family to do it, too.

Secondly, I wanted to re-list current and some new sites and migraine groups (more are on the resources page of this blog) in case you haven’t seen them, want to share with others, or are able at any time to donate dollars (every little bit helps):

Teri Robert is active as ever on Health Central’s Migraine Connection, various blogs listed here … and has started a new blog with a spiritual slant with another wonderful migraine and health advocate, Ellen Schnakenberg.

You can open the door to migraine information and support and be proactive, photo ©2012

The Migraine Research Foundation always offers reliable information while making great strides in migraine research. Donate if and when you can.

Migraine.com has a great group of writers and is amassing a ton of good information.

The Migraine Project — yes, a documentary film about migraine in the making!

WEGO Health for migraine and health activists, advocates and bloggers.

ubiqi health- this is not an endorsement because I haven’t tried their migraine tracker, but if you’re a digital buff, you might want to check it out.

I still rely on the information provided by Diana Lee at SomebodyHealMe and James at  Headache & Migraine News Blog. There are also some great facebook pages and new migraine blogs, so please contact me with any I can add to my blog list here (I know I’m missing many), check my resources page, and connect with migraine participants on facebook and Twitter if you’re active there. Many helpful resources are out there for you.

Now go sign the petition — please and thank you!

Vicki sent a book to Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, and I sent a copy to each of my senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. Seven books are on their way to Congress now!

AND for every book sold in this effort, we will donate $1 to the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. You can make a dual impact with your purchase.

Anyone can purchase a book for Congress to promote awareness and migraine research here: http://www.wordmetropress.com/congress.html. Simply make a note in the PayPal purchase form which Senator or Representative you would like to receive your book.

Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which oversees the National Institutes of Health are listed, and members of the Health Committees are indicated with an asterisk. So you can target a committee member or Congress person of your choice.

I’ll display recipients’ names or districts in blue as they’re chosen so we don’t duplicate efforts.

Along with your book we’ll send a letter (See Congress letter page) with your name, address and purpose or if you wish to write your own letter and e-mail it to me, I can include that.

The Momentum for Migraine is building! More articles appear in the media as more public people speak up as migraineurs. Cindy McCain has entered the fray as a migraine advocate, and as Teri Robert has mentioned, the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) is planning another Headache on the Hill event.

It’s a great time to help Congress understand how much migraine has been neglected and how much attention and funding it needs.

Thank you so much for all you do for migraine understanding and advocacy!