You can fight HD, support our families and help search for a cure. Help us.
Supporters
Making the public aware of Huntington disease, HSC and your local chapter is vitally important. Why?
• HD families discover the services that are available to them.
• Health professionals hear how HSC can help them provide better care.
• Social service workers, the police, employers, shopkeepers, neighbours, etc. learn more about HD, changing attitudes and misconceptions about the disease.
• Volunteers are attracted to your chapter.
• Politicians take HD into account when they're making policies on pensions, health care, research funding, etc.
• We broaden the base of support in our fight against Huntington's.
• HD families discover the services that are available to them.
• Health professionals hear how HSC can help them provide better care.
• Social service workers, the police, employers, shopkeepers, neighbours, etc. learn more about HD, changing attitudes and misconceptions about the disease.
• Volunteers are attracted to your chapter.
• Politicians take HD into account when they're making policies on pensions, health care, research funding, etc.
• We broaden the base of support in our fight against Huntington's.
Our Public Awareness Program
National Office coordinates an extensive public awareness program that includes:
• producing public awareness materials such as posters and pamphlets for use across Canada
• coordinating national Huntington Disease Awareness Month each May
• distributing camera-ready public service announcements (PSAs) and media releases to media outlets across Canada
• training local volunteers to speak in their community
• lending out HSC videos
• linking media professionals to HSC spokespeople
• producing public awareness materials such as posters and pamphlets for use across Canada
• coordinating national Huntington Disease Awareness Month each May
• distributing camera-ready public service announcements (PSAs) and media releases to media outlets across Canada
• training local volunteers to speak in their community
• lending out HSC videos
• linking media professionals to HSC spokespeople
You and PA
Everything done by National Office needs follow-up at the local level to be most effective. The local story is what your community is interested in - so tell them about it!
• Distribute public awareness materials at all your meetings and special events, and in shopping malls, libraries and other public places. Also, look for opportunities to set up a display.
• Promote HD Awareness Month in your area. Ask your Mayor to declare HD Awareness Month (National Office has a proclamation form that you can ask your mayor to sign) and arrange publicity for the ceremony. Remember to make your request several months in advance.
• Encourage local media outlets to use the PSAs that National Office has sent them (get the media list for your area from your contact at National office) and tell them why HD Awareness Month is important in your community. Try to get on the local interview show or open-line program.
• Offer to speak to service clubs, police, high schools or religious groups in your community.
• Show our public awareness video, Partners in Hope.
• Tell National Office which media outlets are supporting our cause, so we can update our records.
• Media always like to put a human face on their stories. Let us know if you are willing to be interviewed about HD. (Before any story is written, we will contact you; your name will NEVER be given to any media person without your consent.) We can also coach you so that you're comfortable before your interview.
With enough notice, we can provide labels for your local mailings, prepare media releases or send out a notice for you. Just ask!
• Distribute public awareness materials at all your meetings and special events, and in shopping malls, libraries and other public places. Also, look for opportunities to set up a display.
• Promote HD Awareness Month in your area. Ask your Mayor to declare HD Awareness Month (National Office has a proclamation form that you can ask your mayor to sign) and arrange publicity for the ceremony. Remember to make your request several months in advance.
• Encourage local media outlets to use the PSAs that National Office has sent them (get the media list for your area from your contact at National office) and tell them why HD Awareness Month is important in your community. Try to get on the local interview show or open-line program.
• Offer to speak to service clubs, police, high schools or religious groups in your community.
• Show our public awareness video, Partners in Hope.
• Tell National Office which media outlets are supporting our cause, so we can update our records.
• Media always like to put a human face on their stories. Let us know if you are willing to be interviewed about HD. (Before any story is written, we will contact you; your name will NEVER be given to any media person without your consent.) We can also coach you so that you're comfortable before your interview.
With enough notice, we can provide labels for your local mailings, prepare media releases or send out a notice for you. Just ask!
More Ideas for Public Awareness
• Is there a big company or hospital in your community that publishes an employee magazine, newsletter or union paper that would include an article about HD? Try calling their community relations or public relations department.
• Most community colleges and universities have an internal newspaper (or sometimes one for faculty and staff and a separate one for students). An article on HD and your local chapter would reach a lot of people. Contact the editor.
• Does someone in your group enjoy public speaking? Most communities have a speakers' bureau. Sign up to give a talk on HD and the Society, or show our public awareness video, Partners in Hope , and answer questions.
• Does your library have any HSC materials? Does it have the name and phone number of the local HSC contact person? Would the library mount an HD display during Awareness month?
• Does your community have a billboard or cable TV program for use by non-profit groups? Book space for Awareness month.
• Local stores and restaurants with changeable outdoor signs will often advertise a charity's event, and fast food chains often print charity messages on tray liners. Ask the manager.
• Most community colleges and universities have an internal newspaper (or sometimes one for faculty and staff and a separate one for students). An article on HD and your local chapter would reach a lot of people. Contact the editor.
• Does someone in your group enjoy public speaking? Most communities have a speakers' bureau. Sign up to give a talk on HD and the Society, or show our public awareness video, Partners in Hope , and answer questions.
• Does your library have any HSC materials? Does it have the name and phone number of the local HSC contact person? Would the library mount an HD display during Awareness month?
• Does your community have a billboard or cable TV program for use by non-profit groups? Book space for Awareness month.
• Local stores and restaurants with changeable outdoor signs will often advertise a charity's event, and fast food chains often print charity messages on tray liners. Ask the manager.