Throughout the month of May, the National Lymphedema Network is running their second annual Stomp Out Lymphedema virtual walk to raise money for lymphedema education and awareness. “While the field of lymphology has come a long way, countless patients with lymphedema and other lymphatic disorders remain largely unheard,” according to the NLN. “Patients continue to be misdiagnosed or worse—ignored. The Lymphedema Awareness Campaign’s goal is to change that.”

Last year, the NLN raised almost $20,000 to launch various initiatives through their Lymphedema Awareness Campaign. These projects included educational videos and free education kits to be distributed to recently diagnosed cancer patients in efforts to spread awareness about lymphedema before it develops, and to give them the proper knowledge if it does. This work is invaluable in empowering lymphedema patients and educating the medical community.

The NLN are in the midst of this year’s fundraiser and, with about two weeks left, they have already raised nearly double last year’s amount (!!!). There’s still some ways to go to reach their goal of $50,000, however, and that’s where you all can help.

Click here to go to The Lymphie Life’s fundraising page for this year’s Stomp Out Lymphedema virtual walk to make a donation—the donation process is fast, easy, and secure, and any little bit helps!! All proceeds go directly to the National Lymphedema Network to support the Lymphedema Awareness Campaign and its education initiatives.

If you’re unable to make a donation at this time, you can still help by sharing the donation page on Facebook and Twitter, or by sending an e-mail to friends you think might be interested in contributing. You can also register to make your own individual fundraising page (instructions here) and raise donations that way. There’s still time left to meet the fundraising goal if we rise to the challenge!

Together, we can help spread awareness about lymphedema and demand education for both patients and the medical community, which will hopefully lead to accessible and affordable treatment for lymphedema patients. Let’s stomp out lymphedema!

If you live in the Baltimore MD area, there is a Stomp Out Lymphedema walk on Sunday, May 24th, at Meadowood Park. Click here for more information or to join the fundraising team. I will be there, so if you go, be sure to say “hello!”