Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week: Day 4 = membership

[Andrew-NRAS]

It’s now day four of Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week and centre stage is being given to the NRAS membership team who are responsible for taking care of the 4,220 members we currently have and trying to increase that number.

Members are a fundamental part of the charity. The more members we have, the greater authority we have when we speak. Equally the more members we have, the more we know we are doing the right thing to support those living with rheumatoid arthritis. There are many benefits to membership and these include a regular magazine and newsletters; the chance to participate in surveys, research projects, political campaigning; and the opportunity to be part of the Volunteer network receive the training that comes with that.

All this costs as little as £20 per year if you pay by direct debit (otherwise it is £25), but as it is Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week we are feeling generous so have reduced this to £10. If you are not a member, why not sign up today by phoning 0845 4583969.

During Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Week we are asking our members to do four things in return, all simple tasks:

1) Donate your NRAS magazine to your GP surgery, hospital waiting area or dental practice. Every member receives a copy of the NRAS magazine delivered to their door three times a year so once you’ve finished and read it from cover to cover several times over, why not give someone else the opportunity to do likewise. You never know, someone may learn a bit more about rheumatoid arthritis because of it.

2) Tell us your story. We are always on the lookout for stories, either to put in our own magazine or to help out journalists with their stories so email your experience of living with rheumatoid arthritis to [e-mail].

3) Pledge to sign up the healthcare professionals in your multidisciplinary team to free NRAS membership. HCPs all get free membership so the next time you visit your GP, rheumatologist, physio, or anyone else in the multidisciplinary team, take along a membership form for them to complete.

4) Nominate your Healthcare Professional Member(s) for the Healthcare Champions Award. Every two years we give our members the opportunity to vote for the individual or team who has made the biggest difference to their life and their battle against rheumatoid arthritis. The award will be launched shortly so keep an eye on our website and members will also be notified through our e-newsletter.

That’s not much at all so please do what you can and together we can help raise the profile of rheumatoid arthritis and help make a better life for those with the disease and those not yet diagnosed.

Yesterday was another busy day for us and some of the NRAS team were at just a few of the many events that were being held all across the country. Several of our patient groups as well as several hospitals hosted information stands in public places. Did you host one, or just attend one? If so then tell us how it went, or even better send in a photo.

We also published an infographic showing just how big an issue RA is: nras.org.uk/includes/docume...

Don’t forget to share it and spread the word about RA.