HPS Awareness Day was created to give the HPS community one special day to focus on unity and awareness. It is the one day our WHOLE community can feel empowered to share their HPS story and reach new people. The first HPS Awareness Day took place in 2019. April 6th was chosen because that is the day the HPS Network became an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1998. The first HPS Awareness Day was also the launch of our custom awareness ribbon: the DOTS on the ribbon are symbolic for our community because it represents part of the diagnosis process by identifying the lack of dense body granules on platelets.
No matter where you are in the world, you can join the HPS community and do a 6-minute walk on April 6th to help raise awareness! Please consider donating this April 6th to help us find a cure!! Follow this LINK to donate.
Even though the “WALK” on HPS Awareness Day is intended to be a *fun, *easy, *casual walk, we chose to honor the “6-minute” timeframe that is used as a diagnostic tool by pulmonologists to measure lung health for those who have or are at risk of developing lung disease like Pulmonary Fibrosis. The real 6-minute walk helps providers to evaluate and monitor a patient’s lung and heart health to determine the appropriate treatment plan.
Show your support all year round!
The HPS “Lots of Dots Challenge” is an opportunity to raise awareness and funding in a fun symbolic way to advance our mission to cureHPS.
The launch of this challenge took place on April 6th, HPS Awareness Day! Including dots in your social media pictures is a simple and easy way to show your support for HPS. Your participation will raise awareness for HPS, which provides hope and opportunity. It gives a voice to those who may never be heard.
Show the world that “These DOTS are making a difference”. This new Lots of Dots apparel was designed to raise AWARENESS and FUNDING for the CureHPS mission! All proceeds go directly to the HPS Network.
Order now at: Bonfire.com/lots-of-dots
WHY DOTS? It’s the DOTS…in our case, lack of dots, that identify a person with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS).
The first step in diagnosis is to analyze the prepared platelets under the electron microscope. A normal functioning platelet looks like a chocolate chip cookie; it has “dots”, these are the dense body granules that contain chemicals that are released when there is an injury. The chemicals help the platelets clump together to form a blood clot. An HPS platelet looks like a sugar cookie; it is missing the dense body granules; the “dots”, that allow the blood to clot properly. It is identifying the lack of dots that gives a definitive diagnosis of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome.
Curing this disease would correct the platelet defect and give us LOTS OF DOTS!! Therefore, we have adopted the DOTS as a symbol of significance within our HPS community and #cureHPS mission. We have designed our awareness ribbon to reflect this, a red ribbon with black dots. We use “dots” as part of our images, communication, and awareness.
Summer FUNdraising Ideas
Outdoor Sports Fun: Arrange a day to play, invite friends and charge an entrance fee. You could have a prize for the winner or get some gifts donated by local businesses. Some fun outdoor sport you could do: Mini golf / Golf tournament, Frisbee, Pickleball, Badminton, Cornhole, Tennis, Volleyball, Bike ride, Walk / Run, Outdoor Yoga / Pilates
Backyard Fun: Its easy to have friends over for a fun day in your backyard, plan a BBQ, Smores night, Outdoor movie, yard games and charge an entrance fee or ask for a donation
Summer Clean Out: Time to clear out those unwanted items. Sell as a fundraiser for the HPS Network! Make sure people know you are selling as a fundraiser, sometimes they are even willing to donate more than you are selling for if they know it is going to a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Ways to sell: Yard Sale, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist…
Summer Talents: DIY projects / Crafts / Baked goods: This is a talented group! Use your skills to raise money for the HPS Network: sell an item, offer a service
Restaurant Fun: Many restaurants have a donation program; they will donate a % of all sales made during your event time/day. Ask all your friends to dine or take-out from that restaurant to benefit the HPS Network! Some places to host: Chipotle, Mod Pizza, Dominos, Panda Express, also check local restaurants!
Krispy Kreme: Amber Klein has arranged a fantastic and DELICIOUS fundraiser! For every dozen sold at $15 Krispy Kreme will donate $7.50 to the HPS Network!!!! Visit Link: https://www.groupraise.com/oc/11323-krispy-kreme/5T6CCH
HPS Cookbook: We will be making a HPS Network Cookbook to sell in time for the holidays, it would be a great gift! Submit your favorite family recipe to help make this cookbook a combination of our communities’ delicious recipes!!!! Submit recipes to: events@hpsnetwork.org