Whereas a great city is only as great as those organizations that perform exemplary service on behalf of their community, and

Whereas; that fibromyalgia is a deliberating disease that affects more than 10 million in the United States, and the need for awareness is needed;

Whereas; increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the realities of life with fibromyalgia will allow the community a large to support people who struggle with the challenges of this chronic pain disorder;

Whereas; the National Fibromyalgia Association and New York Fibromyalgia Association Support Group and other groups around the country have joined together to promote fibromyalgia awareness and support-including education, treatment, and new research capabilities;

Whereas the National Fibromyalgia Association with the publishing of Fibromyalgia AWARE, the first and only consumer magazine for fibromyalgia is assisting fibromyalgia patients and their supporters, healthcare providers, and the community to provide care to those afflicted and increase their awareness of this disease;

Whereas; the community's focus on fibromyalgia and its impact on patient’s lives will help guarantee hope for better future for people with fibromyalgia;

Resolved, that I, Public Advocate for the City of New York, Bill de Blasio, recognize the diligent work of the National Fibromyalgia Association and New York Fibromyalgia Association Support Group for their tireless work in helping the community bring to light the struggles these patients and their supporters face daily, and to bring awareness of the effects this disease has on the community, and may it be further

Resolved, that today May 12, 2011, we recognize this day as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in the City of New York on behalf of those battling this disease, and urge all of our citizens to continue o support the search for a cure and assist those individuals and families who deal with this devastating disease on a daily basis.

--Bill de Blasio

--Public Advocate for the City of New York

WHEREAS, an estimated 6,000,000 people in the United States, 3-6% of the people in the City of Lumberton, and millions of people world wide have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM), a disease for which there is no cure and no known cause;

WHEREAS, fibromyalgia is a chronic illness, increasing at epidemic rates, which causes fatigue and debilitating pain of a magnitude worse than rheumatoid arthritis in women, men and children of all races and all ages;

WHEREAS, patients of this illness have to learn to live with widespread pain in muscles, joints and ligaments, extreme fatigue, insomnia, stiffness and weakness, migraine headaches, restless legs, numbness and tingling, impairment of memory and concentration;

WHEREAS, it often takes an average of five years for a person with FM to receive a diagnosis, because medical professionals aren't adequately educated and updated on FM and the newest research findings concerning this disease;

WHEREAS, it is necessary that we recognize and accept the medical research which has proven biochemical abnormalities in people with FM;

WHEREAS, juvenile FM presents unique challenges for and causes our children to suffer not only with the symptoms of this illness, but also with the ridicule;

WHEREAS, people with FM face discrimination from employers, friends and even family, and must deal with the ongoing stress of living with an unpredictable disease with uncertain futures;

WHEREAS, if employers would support their employees with FM by making changes to the work environment, persons with FM could continue to function at work and not have to file for disability;

WHEREAS, the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign and FM support groups around our county, have joined together to promote FM awareness, support for people with FM and advocate the need for improved education and research to insure quicker diagnosis and improve treatments; and

WHEREAS, in-depth understanding of this illness will help to insure hope for a better future for people with FM;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Raymond B Pennington, Mayor of the City of Lumberton, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2000, as

FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY

in the City of Lumberton, North Carolina, and, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Lumberton, urge all citizens to support those seeking a cure and to assist those individuals and families who deal with this devastating disease on a daily basis.

Raymond S. Pennington
Mayor City of Lumberton, North Carolina

Sharon Hunt, Deputy City Clerk

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2007
H D
HOUSE DRH30261-LN-166 (3/5)
Short Title: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Weiss, Luebke, Glazier, and Blue (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO DESIGNATE MAY 12 OF EACH YEAR AS FIBROMYALGIA
3 AWARENESS DAY.
4 Whereas, fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by
5 widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain, and stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general
6 fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Neurological complaints such as numbness, tingling,
7 and burning are often present and add to the discomfort of the patient; and
8 Whereas, approximately 130,000 North Carolinians and 6 million Americans
9 suffer from fibromyalgia; and
10 Whereas, fibromyalgia is an invisible ailment and as such the normal physical
11 appearance of its victims makes many patients' family, friends, employers, and even
12 some uninformed physicians regard them as malingerers; and
13 Whereas, the lack of public awareness of fibromyalgia contributes to some
14 persons with its symptoms not seeking treatment, thus also contributing to depression
15 and prolonging severe discomfort; and
16 Whereas, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) legitimized
17 fibromyalgia as a medical syndrome and established a widely accepted protocol for
18 diagnosing fibromyalgia. ACR's clinical criteria require that a patient have widespread
19 pain and at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites in all four quadrants of the body
20 lasting at least three months in duration; and
21 Whereas, the Social Security Administration issued a ruling in 1999 that
22 fibromyalgia is a medically determinable impairment in the context of its disability
23 insurance program; and
24 Whereas, some unscrupulous health care practitioners have preyed on
25 fibromyalgia patients and their families by selling them unproven, worthless, and even
26 dangerous treatments often at exorbitant cost; and
General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2007
Page 2 H1465 [Filed]
1 Whereas, it is in the best interests of the citizens of this State to be made
2 aware of fibromyalgia syndrome in order to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of
3 the syndrome; Now, therefore,
4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5 SECTION 1. Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the
6 following new section to read:
7 "§ 103-11. Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
8 The twelfth day of May of each year is designated as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
9 in North Carolina."
10 SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.