Fight The Fusion

Fight the Fusion is a week-long social media awareness campaign to raise awareness and funds for Ankylosing Spondylitis and other spondyloarthropies and arthritic illnesses via Arthritis Research Canada.
This year it will start on April 27th, 2019 and run until the end of the day on May 4th, 2019.

To Fight the Fusion means to do whatever possible to stay active and engage the spine. With diseases like Ankylosing Spondylitis, the SI joints and the spine are primarily affected, beginning with inflammation, erosion of the joints and discs, followed by fusion. Once that fusion takes hold, mobility decreases drastically. It is vital to try and remain even mildly active in hopes to slow down the fusion, to encourage others, and to offer motivation to continue staying active.

Fight the Fusion is about encouraging each other to be active, to be supportive, and help raise awareness for Ankylosing Spondylitis, all the different types of arthritis, and to raise funds for Arthritis Research Canada.

There are 8 prize packs available to be won, and the rules are SIMPLE!

A. Share a photo of yourself being active and use the hashtag #FightTheFusion. 

This can be an old photo, a new photo, a photo of you practicing yoga, or taking the dog for a walk, or stretching out beside the fire, swimming, hiking, climbing, biking -> absolutely any activity. We want to see people talking about arthritis and spondyloarthropies. We want people to tell their stories about how inflammation has affected them and what activities are helpful.

B. Make a donation of $10.00 or more to Arthritis Research Canada OR purchase a Beam by Nimbleback. 

There is a link on The Lighter Side of Medicine blogspot page that will take you directly to Paypal. There is also a link to donate directly to Arthritis Research Canada. The paypal and direct donations will have 100% of these funds going to Arthritis Research Canada. Or you can purchase an incredible BEAM by Nimbleback. With EACH purchase made during this week you will receive your Beam - your new best friend on the yoga mat - AND they have so generously committed to donating a part of the proceeds to Arthritis Research Canada.

By following these two steps you will be entered to win one of the 8 prize packs available!!

You can, however, increase your odds and get extra entries!
To gain 10 extra entries, you must follow all of our sponsors on Instagram, tag 3 friends in this post, and share a story of how inflammation affects you and how activity helps you live better.

Our biggest sponsor - Nimbleback - is not only donating a Beam for one lucky winner, but they are also going to donate money for arthritis research from every single Beam purchase during Fight the Fusion week! I know that I, myself, will be purchasing their newest addition of the softer, gentler, Beam during that week.

We are SO excited to have some wonderful sponsors already, with more potentially in the works.

Karissa Diane Tunes is donating music, Nimbleback - the makers of The Beam are sponsoring this event, as is Painted Light Studios, Melissa Rae Fine Arts, Impress Me Much Jewelry, Nifty Gifts and Apparel (who are also donating items for this year's Stair Climb), and Babbling Panda Yarns is donating some no-waste products like face pads, kitchen towels, and washable baskets.
Each of these generous sponsors will be donating a prize, participating in the event, and some will be donating funds to Arthritis Research with each purchase during that week made by a participant.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at: lightersideofmedicine@gmail.com. 

Bonjour et bienvenue à Éviter La Fusion. Cette semaine - 27 Avril - 4 Mai, nous essayons de sensibiliser Ankylosing Spondylitis et les autres maladies de l'arthrite. Pour participer, vous devez partager une photo et faire un don á Arthritis Research Canada. Vous serez inscrit à un tirage au sort pour les prix.

**If donating directly through ARC, you will have to email the details of your donation to be entered to win one of our prizes. Winners must reside in Canada or the United States.*