We took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
How much has the ALS Association raised? From Time magazine:
The organization’s national office has received $5.5 million for Lou Gehrig’s disease research since July 29, compared to $32,000 in the same period last year.
We are very proud that so many of our friends have taken up the challenge.
Now it's your turn. Donate here.
The health risks of using tobacco are well documented. And just about every scheme has been tried to get people to quit smoking.
This year the World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative is marking World No Tobacco Day on May 31 by advocating for a global hike in taxes on tobacco.
A tax increase that increases tobacco prices by 10% decreases tobacco consumption by about 4% in high-income countries and by up to 8% in most low- and middle-income countries.
The WHO calls increasing taxes on tobacco "the most cost-effective tobacco control measure." It also makes good financial sense.
The World Health Report 2010 indicated that a 50% increase in tobacco excise taxes would generate a little more than US$1.4 billion in additional funds in 22 low-income countries. If allocated to health, government health spending in these countries could increase by up to 50%.
Tobacco kills some 6 million people each year, including 600,000 non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke.
Learn more about the initiative and how you can support it.
Source: Ads of the World
Storm clouds gather over Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington, Conn., shot on May 4, 2014.
Basketball. Softball. Cannonball. Which sounds more fun to you?
Yeah, it's definitely swimming.
That's what USA Swimming says — and its new branding campaign backs it up.
The campaign has some really great spots, a new website (swimtoday.org) and an associated social media push. Even SwimToday's Twitter profile is fun:
The funnest sport there is, according to kids, moms, dads, fish, Yetis, that jogger down the street, and 11 industry-leading swimming organizations.
What a great brand message!
Spring has finally arrived and was recently in full glorious bloom in the Boston Public Garden.
Tulips in front of the Washington statue in the Boston Public Garden, shot May 2, 2014.
Jim Rattray is an award-winning creative professional who has worked extensively in health care, education, corporations and journalism and speaks to marketing and PR audiences on using new tools for public relations, marketing, branding and patient engagement.
The banner photo is of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in California. It was taken at sunset from Glacier Point on October 1, 2012.
Follow my writing and that of others in the Patient Engagement arena on EngagingPatients.org.
