Hey there!  Happy HS Awareness Week!

If you’ve ever longed for a Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness race like you’ve seen for cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s, the wait is over.  For the first time ever, Hope for HS has launched a virtual 5k/10k event, complete with medals and t-shirts, to raise awareness of Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Unlike those events, however, Hope for HS recognizes that it takes an able body to walk or run.  So we adopted the theme of “Rest” and designed an adorable sloth mascot and pro-rest slogan t-shirt to go along with it.

Why Rest?

The irony of a 5k/10k walk/run for Hidradenitis Suppurativa is certainly not lost on us.  Doesn’t sweating lead to HS flares?  Didn’t my doctor tell me it’s worsened by friction?  And isn’t it just too painful to walk some days?  Not to mention the (widely experienced but rarely treated) symptom of fatigue that accompanies a diagnosis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa… how can the people that care most about the Hidradenitis Suppurativa cause be expected to participate?  Enter #resting4HS!

 

Resting for HS means recognition that:

    • when we are in pain, we MUST rest
    • Hidradenitis Suppurativa can cause crippling daily fatigue
    • prioritizing rest is one way to help manage stress, and stress is a trigger for a lot of folks living with HS
    • sometimes our bodies can’t walk long distances, even though we may really want to
Beyond HS Awareness Week

Registration opens today to coincide with the 2021 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Awareness Week, but participants have until December to meet their goal.  In celebration of HS Awareness Week, we have a discounted registration price until June 13th.

Walk, Run, or Rest for a good cause!

All proceeds from this event go toward the missions and programs of Hope for HS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded and directed by people living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa and their caregivers.  Because we are a volunteer organization, 100% of our donations and fundraisers go directly to our missions and programs, allowing us to help more people and have a greater impact.

Fundraisers earn free registration!

In case the cost is a barrier for you, Hope for HS will refund the registration price for any person that creates a fundraiser for the event and raises $50 or more.  The RunSignUp platform makes this seamless and easy, including Facebook fundraiser integration built-in.  Once your friends learn that you are participating for a good cause, the support will roll in!

Spread the word and tag us!

Whether you walk, run, or rest, spread some Hidradenitis Suppurativa awareness by posting a photo on the race website or social media.  Tag us (@hopeforhs on all socials) and use the hashtags #walking4HS, #running4HS, and #resting4HS.  Show off that medal and wear your race shirt proudly!