Part of the 0.1%

June Marks Scleroderma Awareness Month

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that hardens and tightens skin and connective tissue, affecting 0.1% of people in the United States, or just one out of every 1,000 people. There is no known cure for the disease, and while many patients live full lives with scleroderma, it can be fatal. Ashley White is an MBU regional learning student in Jefferson County, Missouri, working toward a degree in middle school education in science, and in addition to her schoolwork, she must deal with the complications of being one of the few afflicted by scleroderma. Here is her story.

Today, June 1, marks the start of Scleroderma Awareness Month, with World Scleroderma Day falling June 29, offering us an opportunity to learn more about this disease, raise awareness in our communities, and contribute to efforts to find a cure. For more information on scleroderma and how to contribute to research, go to Scleroderma.org. And, of course, share this story.