September Awareness Month

September just so happens to be an awareness month for many different things! So, here’s a little bit of information about each one and what you can do to help spread awareness and raise money.

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Day & Memory Walk

• World Alzheimer’s Day takes place on the 21^st September. The aim of this years World Alzheimer’s Day is to challenge the stigma surrounding the disease. Alzheimer’s Society want people to help break the stereotypes and myths. Many people affected by dementia say that they are often met with ignorance and rude jokes/comments from people who don’t understand the realities of the disease.
• There are a few things you can try to do to break the stigma; see the person not the dementia, remember that not everyone will find your joke funny, remember that your unkind jokes contribute to the stigma, don’t spread incorrect information, and be open to learning about the disease.
• You can help fund vital research into Alzheimer’s by taking part in a memory walk! One will be taking place in Milton Keynes on the 22^nd September – head to the Alzheimer’s society memory walk website to find out how!

Macmillan Coffee Morning

• Macmillan Cancer Support provide vital support for people with cancer from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. They provide emotional, physical and financial support.
• Hosting a coffee morning raises money for things like health and wellbeing events and grants for holidays for families affected by cancer.
• Getting involved in a coffee morning, whether its hosting, baking, attending or donating makes a huge difference!

Blood Cancer Awareness

• The aim of Blood Cancer Awareness Month is to make people aware of the symptoms as they aren’t always obvious and you can have these symptoms and not have blood cancer, so many people often dismiss them.
• Symptoms include; unexplained bruising or bleeding, unexplained weight loss, lumps or swellings, night sweats, persistent, recurrent or severe infections, unexplained fever (38°C or above), unexplained rash or itchy skin, bone, joint or abdominal pain, tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep, breathlessness, unusually pale complexion (pallor).

Vascular Disease Awareness

• Not many people know about vascular disease and the effect it could have on our lives – Vascular Disease Awareness Month attempts to change this.
• The Circulation Foundation have a ‘Step it up for September’ campaign which encourages people to step it up to prevent vascular diseases, for example; step it up for fundraising, step it up for stopping smoking, step it up for healthy eating, and step it up for regular exercise.

Blood Pressure Awareness

• ‘Know your numbers week’ is Blood Pressure UK’s campaign to encourage people to know their blood pressure and keep it at a healthy level.
• Go to your nearest free blood pressure station to get yours checked!