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10 Reasons to Wear Green for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

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March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and it seems the whole world is seeing green! By the next day, all posts about pots o’gold and how Irish eyes are smilin’ will be gone. The Chicago river won’t be dyed green and the color of luck, money won’t be splashed all over social media. But it needs to be. Here are 10 reasons why you should wear green after St. Patrick’s Day:

1. Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood.

2. There are 17 million people in the world living with cerebral palsy.

3. March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

4. March 25 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, thanks to Reaching for the Stars: a Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

Proclamation of CP Awareness Day.

5.  There is no federal funding for cerebral palsy research.

6.  Cerebral palsy gets little to no media coverage. We hear about other awareness days and months, but it seems like CP gets the shaft ever year.

7.  Adults with CP are often forgotten and have trouble getting the help they need.

Children with CP become adults with CP. They need help and their stories need to be told too.

8.  There are many inspiring stories about adults and children thriving (not suffering!) with cerebral palsy. By wearing green, you can help highlight them.

9. Because many people don’t know much about cerebral palsy, myths spread like wildfire. Wear green to help focus on the facts and to show the world What CP Looks Like.

10. Many people with CP feel alone. Wear green to support 17 million of us. Remind everyone that green isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day!

Nicole Luongo. I am 1 in 17 million.

Originally published: March 18, 2018
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