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Posted by: The Sumaira Foundation in News & Announcements
March 7, 2024 — The Sumaira Foundation (TSF) is delighted to announce a new partnership during NMO and MS Awareness Months with We Are ILL, a nonprofit patient advocacy organization with a mission to redefine what “sick” looks like for Black women living with multiple sclerosis (MS). TSF and We Are ILL are both patient-founded organizations led by women of color, Sumaira Ahmed and Victoria Reese, respectively.
This collaboration will allow TSF and We Are ILL to join efforts, resources, and capabilities and thus significantly expand their reach to support neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and MS patients in need. The partnership will allow both organizations to:
Speaking of the collaboration, TSF Founder & Executive Director Sumaira says, “TSF has always had a global mission to support the diverse patient population along their diagnosis journey, especially those who may have experienced misdiagnosis. Our partnership with We Are ILL perfectly aligns with this mission by finding NMOSD and MOGAD patients in the MS community who need disease-specific resources. Patients will also benefit from more education for early diagnosis and proper treatment recommendations, disease awareness campaigns, and timely access to relevant information on their own diseases.”
We Are ILL Founder Victoria Reese says, “Our collaboration with TSF represents a significant milestone in our journey, as two organizations dedicated to empowering and uplifting those living with chronic illnesses join forces. By combining our resources, knowledge, and passion, we aim to amplify our advocacy efforts, enhance our support networks, and further our mission to provide hope and empower individuals facing health challenges. This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting journey.”
The Sumaira Foundation encourages NMOSD/MOGAD patients and caregivers to explore our comprehensive and multi-language website, including our interactive NMOSD therapies chart, join our support group meetings, and connect with our global TSF Ambassador team.
