Empowering Lives with Rare and Chronic Illness Awareness
| Condition Name | Ribbon Color/Symbol | Concise Description | Important Date(s) of Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Adhesions | Burgundy | Bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal tissues and organs, often after surgery, which can cause chronic pain or lead to a small bowel obstruction. | No specific, widely recognized awareness date found. |
| ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) | Orange | A lifelong mental health condition that usually appears in early childhood, characterized by difficulty prioritizing, organizing, and focusing on tasks. | **October** (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Month) |
| Adrenal Cancer | Green | A rare and often aggressive cancer (Adrenocortical carcinoma - ACC) that arises in the adrenal cortex, typically presenting through excess hormone production or as a large tumor causing pain. | **January** (Adrenal Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Agent Orange | Orange | A toxic herbicide and defoliant used during the Vietnam War. Exposure is linked to a host of chronic health problems in Veterans, including cancers and other long-term illnesses. | **August 10th** (Agent Orange Awareness Day) |
| ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) | Blue/White with Navy Stripes | A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and eventual paralysis. | **May** (ALS Awareness Month) |
| Alzheimer's Disease | Purple | A complex neurological disease and the most common form of dementia that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells. | **November** (Alzheimer's Awareness Month) |
| Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS) | Orange | A painful condition where a mild pain signal is amplified by an abnormal short circuit in the spinal cord, leading to constant, intense pain without ongoing tissue damage. | No specific, widely recognized awareness date found. |
| Appendix Cancer | Amber | A rare, but serious cancer that originates in the appendix, often hard to detect due to vague symptoms like constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain. | **August** (Appendix Cancer Awareness Month) |
| ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) | Blue/White | A life-threatening lung injury, often caused by sepsis or pneumonia, where fluid builds up in the air sacs, leading to dangerously low blood oxygen levels. | No specific, widely recognized awareness date found. |
| Autism | Rainbow Infinity/Owl | A spectrum disorder (ASD) dedicated to raising awareness, promoting acceptance, and celebrating the unique strengths and abilities of individuals on the spectrum. | **April** (Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month) |
| Autoinflammatory Disorders | Orange | A group of rare and complex diseases (like FMF) that cause intense systemic inflammation, often leading to recurrent high fevers, due to a malfunctioning immune system. | **August** (International Autoinflammatory Awareness Month) |
| Breast Cancer | Pink | The second most common type of cancer among women, where early detection through regular mammograms and clinical breast exams is crucial for survival. | **October** (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Celiac Disease | Green | An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks tissues when eating gluten, causing intestinal damage and other systemic symptoms. | **May** (Celiac Disease Awareness Month) and **May 16th** (International Celiac Disease Awareness Day) |
| Cerebral Palsy | Green | A neurological condition and the most common motor disability of childhood that affects muscles, movements, and mobility, caused by brain damage or abnormal brain development. | **March** (Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month) and **March 25th** (Awareness Day) |
| Childhood Cancer | Gold | A group of cancers biologically distinct from adult cancers that impact children, requiring specialized research and treatments. | **September** (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - CCAM) |
| Colorectal Cancer | Navy | A type of cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. It is the second leading cancer killer in the US, but is largely preventable and treatable with early screening. | **March** (National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month) |
| COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) | Orange | A type of progressive lung disease characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms and persistent, often progressive, airflow limitation. | **November** (COPD Awareness Month) and **November 19th** (World COPD Day) |
| CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) | Orange | A painful and debilitating post-traumatic primary pain disorder that causes severe, ongoing pain disproportionate to the injury. | **November** (CRPS/RSD Awareness Month, also known as Colour the World Orange™) |
| Cultural Diversity | Orange | *Awareness Theme: Fosters an environment of inclusion and respect for diverse backgrounds, which is essential for a comprehensive health and wellness community.* | Various dates (e.g., May 21st - World Day for Cultural Diversity). |
| Cystic Fibrosis | Purple / 65 Roses | A genetic disease that causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus, clogging airways and blocking digestive ducts. | **May** (National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month) |
| Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | Cream/Ivory | A condition typically caused by aging, where intervertebral discs lose volume and height, leading to chronic back or neck pain if adjacent nerve roots are involved. | **October** (Spine Health Awareness Month, which includes DDD) |
| Diabetes | Blue & Grey/Hummingbird | A disease where the body cannot produce or effectively use insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels that can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. | **November** (National Diabetes Month) and **November 14th** (World Diabetes Day) |
| Dissociative Disorders | Multi-colored | A severe dissociative condition often linked to childhood trauma, characterized by disruptions in identity, memory loss, and emotional detachment. | **March 5th** (Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day) |
| Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) | Zebra | A group of rare genetic disorders that affect the connective tissue, causing symptoms like joint hypermobility, skin extensibility, and fragile tissues. | **May** (EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month) |
| Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) | Orange | A genetic autoinflammatory disorder that causes recurrent fevers and painful inflammation of the abdomen, chest, and joints. | **September 17th** (International Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Day) |
| Fibromyalgia | Purple/Purple Butterfly | A widespread chronic pain condition characterized by joint pain and fatigue, specific points of tenderness, and cognitive problems. | **May** (Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month) |
| Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) | Orange | A disorder where the nervous system has a problem with sending and receiving signals, causing physical, sensory, and cognitive symptoms similar to other neurological diseases. | **April 13th** (International FND Awareness Day) |
| Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) | Navy | A rare neurological disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing the rapid onset of weakness and often paralysis. | **May** (GBS/CIDP Awareness Month) |
| Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) | Copper | A common viral infection, often genital, that impacts sexual health. Awareness efforts focus on debunking myths and fighting the stigma around the disease. | **October 13th** (Herpes Awareness Day) |
| Huntington's Disease (HD) | Blue | A fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. | **May** (HD Awareness Month) |
| Ichthyosis | Navy | A group of genetic skin disorders that cause dry, scaly, thickened skin (like fish scales). It is a lifelong battle that can cause dehydration, overheating, and social stigma. | **May** (Ichthyosis Awareness Month) |
| Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma) | Orange | A cancer that affects the kidneys. The orange ribbon is used to spotlight the disease and the hereditary risks associated with it. | **March** (Kidney Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Koolen-de Vries Syndrome (KdVS) | Navy | A rare genetic syndrome caused by a microdeletion on chromosome 17 that affects development, leading to developmental delays, heart conditions, and epilepsy. | **July 17th** (KdVS Awareness Day) |
| Krabbe Disease | Navy | A rare and often fatal lysosomal storage disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system due to the buildup of lipids, which affects the protective myelin sheath. | **September** (Leukodystrophy & Newborn Screening Awareness Month) |
| Leukemia | Orange | A cancer of the early blood-forming tissues (including bone marrow and lymph system) that typically involves white blood cells. | **September** (Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month) |
| Lymphoma | Lime Green | A cancer that begins in the cells of the lymph system, which is part of the immune system that helps the body fight infection and disease. | **September** (Lymphoma Awareness Month) and **September 15th** (World Lymphoma Awareness Day) |
| Lupus | Purple | A chronic, systemic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues and organs, leading to inflammation and damage. | **May** (Lupus Awareness Month) and **May 10th** (World Lupus Day) |
| Malnutrition | Orange | A condition with deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in nutrient intake, which slows healing, raises infection risk, and causes muscle weakness. | **September** (Malnutrition Awareness Week, typically mid-month) |
| ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) | Blue | A serious, long-term illness characterized by severe fatigue, sleep problems, and worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion (post-exertional malaise). | **March** (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Awareness Month) |
| Melanoma | Black | The most serious form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes. It can appear anywhere on the body, even in places not exposed to the sun. | **May** (Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Orange | A chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system, causing the immune system to attack the protective covering of nerves (myelin). | **March** (Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month) |
| Narcolepsy | Black/Penguin | A chronic neurological condition where the brain cannot regulate the sleep-wake cycle, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (sudden muscle weakness), and sleep paralysis. | **September 22nd** (World Narcolepsy Day) |
| Neuroblastoma | Gold | A complex disease that is a form of childhood cancer. | **September** (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which includes Neuroblastoma) |
| Pancreatic Cancer | Purple | A deadly type of cancer that is the eighth most common cause of cancer death. | **November** (Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Parkinson's Disease | Grey | A neurodegenerative disorder that mainly affects the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, causing tremors, slowness of movement, and balance problems. | **April** (National Parkinson's Awareness Month) |
| POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) | Teal & White/Astronaut | A form of Dysautonomia where the heart rate increases rapidly upon standing, causing symptoms like lightheadedness, fatigue, and fainting. | **October** (Dysautonomia Awareness Month) |
| Prader-Willi Syndrome | Orange | A variable and complex genetic neurobehavioral disorder resulting from an abnormality on the 15th chromosome. It typically causes low muscle tone and a chronic, life-threatening feeling of hunger. | **May** (Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month) |
| Rectal Cancer | Navy | A type of cancer that starts in the rectum. This is generally grouped with Colorectal Cancer, which is largely preventable and treatable with early screening. | **March** (National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month) |
| Sickle Cell Disease | Burgundy | A complex group of inherited blood disorders where red blood cells become rigid and deform into a sickle shape, restricting blood flow and leading to serious health problems like pain, stroke, and organ damage. | **September** (National Sickle Cell Awareness Month) |
| Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) | Cream/Ivory | A group of genetic conditions that destroy the lower motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, and difficulty controlling movement. | **August** (Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month) |
| Teens Against Smoking | Navy | *Awareness Campaign: Focuses on anti-smoking and tobacco awareness efforts for youth.* | Various dates (e.g., February 1st - Kick Butts Day, various days in November). |
