In addition to pain, sickness, and — for many — daily disability, migraine carries a severe burden of discrimination and negativity from many members of the community.

This is social stigma.

History demonstrates that diseases that are stigmatized, like HIV, and breast cancer, can only change in the public’s mind when the patients and their families come together in community action asking for recognition. Diseases in which the patients do not stand up for themselves remain badly stigmatized, and patients do not receive the research or therapies needed to effectively treat their condition. This is true even if doctors speak up for the disease; patients and their families must take over the effort.

Patients with migraine often do not have the chance to stand up for their disease, and thus themselves. They desperately need an opportunity to do something positive about their condition. It is basic psychology that by collaborating positively with a group, you will feel better about yourself. Patients also need a way to encourage their families and friends to participate for migraine; doing something for someone else’s disease transforms attitudes and provides them an opportunity to learn about the scope of migraine.

Migraine is a major disease that receives about a 20th of the research dollars that should be given to it based upon its impact. Migraine patients desperately need new research to discover new treatments, and headache researchers and clinical specialists need to be trained. Miles for Migraine does all of these things; it does so by bringing patients together in the community while also participating in an activity that is good for your health!