Raise Awareness in your community
Try this three-step plan to raise awareness where you live!
- Call or email your Mayor and request an official proclamation.
- Provide the Mayor’s office with these “whereas clauses,” or write your own. Keep them simple and to the point.
- Sit back and wait for your proclamation to arrive in the mail.
If you have a city proclamation in your hand, local media will pay attention to you. Contact them after your receive yours, and ask them about running a human interest piece on facial pain!
Whereas Clause Verbiage:
WHEREAS, facial pain disorders cause excruciating pain to the face; and
WHEREAS, these disorders include trigeminal neuralgia (TN,) geniculate neuralgia (GN,) glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN,) trigeminal deafferentation pain (TDP,) and anesthesia dolorosa (AD,) among others; and
WHEREAS, facial pain disorders can strike anyone, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, or any other demographic category; and
WHEREAS, there is no cure for these facial pain disorders; and
WHEREAS, facial pain disorders are generally chronic and progressive; and
WHEREAS, trigeminal neuralgia (TN,) the most common of these rare facial pain disorders, is considered by physicians and researchers to be the most painful affliction known to medical practice; and
WHEREAS, statistics show that about 1 in 20,000 people have TN; however, due to misdiagnoses, lack of diagnosis, and lack of awareness, the number is believed to be much greater*; and
WHEREAS, increased education and research is needed to find more effective treatments with fewer side effects and, ultimately, a cure for facial pain.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, (mayor’s name), Mayor of (city or town), do hereby proclaim October as Facial Pain Awareness Month in (city or town), and encourage all citizens to support the Facial Pain Advocacy Alliance’s efforts to increase awareness of facial pain conditions thereby improving outcomes for those living with these conditions, especially those who are as yet undiagnosed.