United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Okay, I am sitting at the table this morning preparing to clip those Sunday Coupons and there is an ad for those magnetic ribbons you see on everyone's(including mine) cars, trucks, buses...etc. And then it dawned on me...why not a silver ribbon for Brachial Plexus Awareness....I have seen Red, White and Blue for the U.S., Yellow for the Troops, Black for the POW's, Pink for Breast Cancer, Camoflage for the troops, I even have seen a rainbow for Gay Rights, so why not a silver one for our kids? I have even seen the pink ones with a heart cut out of the middle, the yellow ones with a cross, so why couldn't we do a bell. Who could think of an easier way to spread awareness....I have sat for hours and done ribbons for my son's classroom and have made hand cookies for awareness week but think of it. We could honestly plaster this world with silver magnetic ribbons on our cars. I know I would put one on every family members car, send one to my son's awesome attorney and so on. Anyone else interested? I am going to call around to see how much they will cost. Do I need permission for UBPN to use their symbol, does anyone know?
Gayle
Mom of Brandon 6 year old with ROBPI

I have found a place that can do these ribbons for us. I need to know if anyone else is interested.....support groups and so on. Let me know approximately how many so I can rough estimate this once I get an OK from UBPN. We could even do a pamphlet on awareness material to give to people that ask.

The UBPN Board of Directors actually discussed this, and while we all felt it would be a good awareness idea, we also felt that maybe the ribbons should remain for the troops. However, if the community wants this, maybe it would be worth doing.

Peggy

Sounds like a good thought. I'd be interested in a few, of course cost is always an issue. What did they say it may run?

Emily Humphrey

Gayle - I love the idea, but do you think the ribbon thing is overdone? I fear our concept would be lost in the sea of ribbons and lose its impact.

What about another magnet shape - like a hand or arm? Or would that be too weird? What do you all think?

Janet

Gayle,

Thank you so much for thinking about ways to increase awareness! It is just so very, very important for our ignored community to start getting the word out more and more. I like your idea and would certainly be interested in supporting it. I also must share that I tend to have the same thoughts and questions that Janet does on this. Ribbons are everywhere you turn, and I personally feel they are losing some of their impact and appeal because of it. I would be even more interested in seeing a nice, catchy logo and image. Maybe a magnet or maybe a nice sticker (maybe even one that can be removed...like the sticky clear ones) we could apply to our cars with UBPN link so people could obtain more information. I don't know....just a few thoughts. I think there will be varying opinions on this, but the bottom line is, you are on to a GREAT idea and I would love to see something done with this. Perhaps UBPN would consider such a project and you could take it on?

Thanks again!!! I am excited about your idea.

Lisa

I think this is a great idea. I do see where some people can feel we are bombarded with different ribbons on vehicles, but I notice them all the time. Isn't that the point is to get them noticed and start a conversation about it? When I first saw a different colored one (the pink one), I discussed with my husband that it must be fore Breast Cancer Awareness. It got the conversation going. I'm all for it. Let me know what needs to be done!

Tanya in NY

I think this is a GREAT idea...

It sounds like there is a lot of interest in this so far. The Board of Directors like to hear from some more folks before we pursue this, just to be sure that it would be something welcomed by the bpi community. So keep the conversation going and let us know what you think.

Nancy Birk
UBPN President