National Pain Week - July 21-27
The Cronulla Sharks are partnering with Chronic Pain Australia to create awareness of the significant impact chronic pain can have on people’s lives, as part of National Pain Week – July 21-27, 2014.
In highlighting the cause the partnership will see the Sharks take to the field in their round 19 match on Friday night against the Cowboys featuring the Chronic Pain Australia logo on the NRL playing strip.
Ironically, round 19 of the NRL is also ‘Rise for Alex’ week, with all clubs involved in fund raising activities for Alex McKinnon, the young Knights player currently paralysed after an unfortunate accident in a match played earlier this year.
McKinnon, whose condition is reportedly improving by the day, faces the prospect of dealing with chronic pain during his recovery period and possibly into the future, making the partnership with the Sharks as timely as it is important in raising awareness to the cause. Chronic pain is a common companion to spinal cord injury.
Chronic Pain Australia will also be undertaking fund raising activities at the game on July 18 to raise money for research into the long term effects of pain through sport.
Chronic pain can be a result of long term injury, due to a chronic disease including cancer, or the result of trauma, surgery, or a wide range of other reasons. It cuts across disease states and is a fundamental human experience that is often not spoken about. People should speak up and get help for their pain. Early treatment can reduce the risk of pain becoming chronic.
In response to the issues associated with the condition, Chronic Pain Australia was set up as a group of volunteers including people in pain, researchers, health professionals and advocates, all working towards de-stigmatising the experience of chronic pain. It also provides high quality user-friendly research-based information and support that puts those affected at the centre of their attention.
If you live with pain, Chronic Pain Australia can help you understand and control it, by finding support and connection with others involved in the 24/7 forum and by staying up to date via a free e-bulletin. Click on www.chronicpainaustralia.org.au to sign up for the free e-bulletin, while the website also offers a range of resources and tools to help control pain.
Help the Sharks support Chronic Pain Australia in their efforts to assist those affected by pain by visiting the website at www.nationalpainweek.org.au.
