Celebrate World Sjögren's Day
World Sjögren's is celebrated annually on July 23rd as a day to spread awareness and raise money for Sjögren's research, education, and advocacy. It is a day where we encourage patients to use their voice and help us show the world that Sjögren's is a serious, systemic, and prevalent disease. In honor of the Sjögren's Foundation's 40th anniversary, Amgen pledged a dollar-for-dollar match up to $40,000. Including this match, the Foundation was able to raise over $80,000 in 2024!
What is World Sjögren's Day?
World Sjögren's Day is meant to put a face on the millions of people who live with this disease or suffer from symptoms and have yet to be diagnosed. It gives everyone touched by Sjögren's a vehicle to reach out and educate those close to them - family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. - about the disease. It is the ideal opportunity for you to have your voice heard and to spread awareness about this life-altering disease.
Leading up to World Sjögren's Day and especially on the day itself, talk about Sjögren’s with the people in your life. Share your story and educate others! By doing so, you are helping spread the message that Sjögren's is a serious disease that deserves to be recognized. You may also be helping someone who is looking for answers to their own questions.
Make an Impact!
World Sjögren's Day is also a chance to further Sjögren's research and education by making a donation. In honor of the Sjögren's Foundation's 40th aniversary, Amgen pledged a dollar-for-dollar match up to $40,000! Thanks to their generosity, your gift will have DOUBLE the impact.
Money raised on World Sjögren's Day helps support:
- Research, including grants awarded by the Foundation into the cause, prevention, detection, treatment, and cure for Sjögren’s
- Professional Education, such as CME courses for healthcare physicians to increase their education of Sjögren’s and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sjögren’s to improve the quality of care for Sjögren's patients
- Advocacy, including ongoing efforts to have Dental covered by Medicare
- Awareness Programs, such as the Sjögren’s Awareness Ambassadors
World Sjögren's Day Awareness Videos
Every World Sjögren's Day we encourage patients to share their story to help raise awareness about Sjögren's Disease and explain why the funds raised are so crucial to continuing Sjögren's research, awareness and advocacy.
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Shannon Boxx, three time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion is using her voice this World Sjögren's Day to spread awareness.
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Tiffany Wells, Sjögren’s patient, uses her voice to support everyone living this disease and help educate others that it is serious, systemic, and prevalent.
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Lunda Wells, Tight End Coach for the Dallas Cowboys, uses his voice to support his wife Tiffany and all patients on World Sjögren’s Day.
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Join us on July 23rd for World Sjögren's Day!
History of World Sjögren's Day
Dr. Henrik Sjögren was a Swedish ophthalmologist who first identified the disease in 1933. Today, his birthday is celebrated as World Sjögren's Day to help raise awareness for this disease.
In 1929, Dr. Sjögren met a patient who complained of dry eye, dry mouth and joint pain. While each of these symptoms were already well known, it was the combination of them that Dr. Sjögren noticed and decided to investigate.
Dr. Sjögren could have been just an ophthalmologist who happened to meet a patient with dry eye, but his open mind led him to the discovery of an unknown clinical entity. His work not only paved the way for current researchers in the field but has also helped all patients living with this complex disease.
You can donate in honor of Dr. Sjögren, yourself, a loved one, or in honor of the nearly 4 million Americans who fight this disease each day.
Share the Sjögren's Foundation World Sjögren's Day Fact Sheet