Another #FollowFriday is here and we’ve got another three Patient Leaders to knock your socks off!
The following three Patient Leaders were all finalists in the 2017 WEGO Health Awards and for good reason, they are making major moves in advocacy. This Friday take some time to read about these three, follow them on their social channels, and share them with your community. Sharing is caring!
Gabrielle Frost
Mental Health Patient Leader
Website | Twitter | Facebook
“I advocate for mental health because I am personally affected by mental illness and have many friends and family who are affected as well. I began my journey as a mental health advocate when I was 14 years old and discovered that my best friend was self-harming and had suicidal ideations. Around the same time, I noticed that a lot of people turned to Twitter and Instagram to find supportive communities that understand mental health. Because of these two experiences, I was motivated to create Buddy Project, a non-profit aiming to prevent suicide by pairing people as buddies and raising awareness for mental health.”
Gabe Howard
Mental Health Patient Leader
Website | Twitter | Facebook
“I’m a patient leader because I wanted discussions about my condition to be lead by somebody with my condition. I didn’t want to be talked about; I wanted to be talked to. I believe that we need to have open discussions surrounding mental health & mental illness.”
Eileen Davidson
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Leader
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
“I believe in the change disease awareness brings forth to those who fall victim and their families to the misfortune of chronic illness. My diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis before my 31st Birthday introduced me to the hell that is a chronic and invisible illness all while with a toddler to take care of. Mothering a small child when I could barely care for myself proved to be one of the biggest and painful challenges of my life but my love for him triumphs all. My advocacy is my way of showing him that I refuse to ever give up on us, I am a fighter. As a mother my heart breaks knowing children can go through the anguish and fatigue that comes with the monster that Arthritis truly is while stuck with a crippling stigma of it only strikes the elderly and downplayed on its severity leaving many suffering in the dark. Having experienced my own personal problems and listening to the same problems of many chronically ill I’ve met in less than a year of advocacy I’ve decided to come forward to try and expose the stigma that is debilitating proper treatments, diagnosis, and funding for Arthritis. Disease awareness is important for a better future for the millions around the world suffering in silence from the villain that is Arthritis. They are not alone.”
If you’re feeling inspired by these top Patient Leaders, you should join our network!
When you join our Patient Leader Network you’re first to know about the new and exciting things we’re doing at WEGO Health. Not only will we reach out to you when we have paid opportunities in your condition area, but we’ll also connect you with other Patient Leaders so you can share ideas and help each other amplify your messages. What are you waiting for? Join today!
Did you miss our last #FollowFriday? You can catch up here!
