It's PWS Awareness Month!
A round up of everything going on this May
May is PWS Awareness Month, and this year, there are more ways than ever for you to get involved and raise much-needed awareness and funds for Prader-Willi syndrome.
After polling, the community decided that PWS Awareness Day is to be celebrated on May 15th this year. This reflects the involvement of Chromosome 15 in Prader Willi Syndrome and brings us into line with the US, Canada and Ireland.
We are very proud to continue to work together with the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research during May under as part of the PWS Stronger Together partnership. This means that all funds raised during Awareness Month will be shared between the two charities, to provide vital support and research to help improve life for people with PWS.
This year, we're encouraging schools, workplaces, residential settings, families and supporters to get involved in a way that works for them.
Schools
On May 15th, we’re inviting schools to ‘Go orange for PWS’, inviting pupils to wear something orange, instead of their uniform and donate £1 to PWS Stronger Together.
We have created ‘Go orange’ packs of resources for schools, so the day can also be a learning opportunity for pupils, helping them understand the condition and how they can help to support people with PWS. Find out more here
Families and Supporters
Show your support by going orange, taking part in a movement challenge, or getting creative!
Download our PWS Awareness Day inspiration sheet for lots more ideas about how you can fundraise in a way that works for you and your family.
Workplaces
This year we're encouraging everyone who has a loved one with Prader-Willi syndrome to raise awareness of PWS at their workplace.
Get your workplace involved by taking part in a team fitness challenge, 'going orange' on 15th May, making a pact to take the stairs, or even donating your daily coffee money!
Help educate your work colleagues about PWS and why you are raising money by displaying posters, making a PWS fact board or adding a footer to your email.
Download all our fundraising ideas and information for workplaces
Download the poster for workplaces
PWS Residential Settings and Supported Living
We'd love to see PWS providers getting involved by raising awareness, going orange, or hosting an event or fundraising challenge on May 15th
You could spread awareness and get creative at the same time by designing posters, decorating windows or creating an PWS awareness wall.
Alternatively you could get everyone moving with a team activity challenge...
Download all our fundraising ideas for PWS providers here.
Celebrating reasons to be hopeful
This year, our theme for PWS Awareness Month is 'Reasons to be Hopeful'. We spend a lot of time focussing on the challenges PWS can bring, but with the right support, we know people with PWS can thrive and our wonderful community surprises us every day. Throughout May, we'll be celebrating people with PWS and the incredible things they can achieve, if they are supported in the right way.
If your person with PWS has achieved something you never thought they would, or just made your day with their kindness or the things they say and do, send us a message to admin@PWSA.co.uk and we'll celebrate them this May. Don't forget to send a photo and tell us all about it!
