Vasculitis Foundation to Mark Awareness Month With ‘Patient Heroes’ Cards

The Vasculitis Foundation is urging people living with vasculitis to tell their personal stories on collectable baseball-type cards named “Patient Heroes.”

This inaugural initiative will be part of this year’s Vasculitis Awareness Month events, which runs each May.

On the Patient Heroes collectable cards, people living with this rare disease will share their experiences, so others can learn from the.

Each collectable card will have a photo on the front and information on the back, including the person’s name, type of vasculitis, and year of diagnosis, as well as a quote about the patient’s journey. The card will also include a QR code linking to a video of the person talking about what inspires them on their vasculitis journey.

According to the Foundation’s website, applications will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 19. The nomination process is international, allowing patients with vasculitis around the world to participate, either by nominating themselves or being nominated by someone else.

To apply, participants must complete three steps. They begin by filling out an 11-question application form with details about the nominee.

They then should create and submit a 30- to 60-second video of the nominee talking about his or her story and personal inspirations. Videos must be filmed horizontally in a well-lit outside or indoor environment. More information on video guidelines can be found here.

Along with the video, participants must submit a photo of the nominee for use on the Patient Heroes card. Photos can be taken with either a phone or a digital camera, but must be high resolution. Tips on how to get the best picture and how to submit it, along with examples of ideal photos, are also available on the guidelines.

Those interested in participating can email their videos and photos to Ed Becker at [email protected], or send it to Becker using the free file transfer service WeTransfer.com (a video link explaining how WeTransfer works is included on the guidelines). Questions and technical issues or requests for assistance can also be sent to Becker, the foundation’s media producer.

Packets of Patient Heroes cards will be sent to Vasculitis Awareness Month sponsors, the number depending on the level of sponsorship. Those that remain will be used as a premium gift for a minimum $100 donation while supplies last.

To mark 2020’s awareness month, the foundation sponsored activities that ranged from informative webinars to sharing “life hacks” with this disease, podcasts like the “Vasculitis Visionaries” series, pajama parties, and caregiver and nurse appreciation days.

The Vasculitis Foundation is a registered U.S. charity that joins patients, caregivers, friends, family, physicians, and researchers in advocating for early diagnosis, better treatments, and an improved quality of life.

Building upon the collective strength of the vasculitis community, the foundation supports, inspires, and empowers individuals with vasculitis and their families through a wide range of education, research, clinical, and awareness initiatives. These now include the Patient Heroes cards.