March marks Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, with March 25th being National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. The month is dedicated to increasing awareness about CP and fundraising to research a cure. Those participating in CP Awareness Month wear green throughout March to show their support.
Children’s Cerebral Palsy plans to increase the public’s awareness of the best practices for managing CP and gaining normalcy in the lives of those affected.
“March is the biggest month for focusing on cerebral palsy, for which there is presently no cure, however, it is awareness initiatives like these that propel our efforts forward,” said Dr. David Siambanes, founder of the Children’s Cerebral Palsy and director of the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Cerebral Palsy Center. “We can attribute more resources to research and build an understanding of those affected by CP and see them not just for their disability, but for their many abilities.”
CP is a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, most often before birth.
According to the CDC, cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood with about one in every 323 children having been identified with CP.
“I encourage everyone to get involved,” says Siambanes. “Whether it is attending a CP event, participating in a social media campaign, or simply wearing green, anything helps.”
Tampa locals looking to support the fight against cerebral palsy are encouraged to donate to local cerebral palsy charities like United Cerebral Palsy of Tampa Bay, HUGS of Florida and The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation, to name a few.
