Migraine and Headache Poetry Contest Launched

The "Putting Our Heads Together" Poetry Contest 2006 is now underway. Submissions from people who have head pain disorders or affected by them through other people are being accepted online through March 21, 2006.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) March 6, 2005 -- Migraine disease affects nearly 36 million people in the United States alone. At least 80% of the world's population will be affected by tension-type headaches at some time in their lives. Migraine disease and headaches can be debilitating, and they can make sufferers feel increasingly isolated.

Author and patient advocate Teri Robert has been experiencing headaches and Migraine attacks from childhood and encourages sufferers to find creative ways to express their pain and emotions. “Writing can be very therapeutic, as can reading what others have written,” said Robert. “Migraine disease and headaches can impact our lives more than many other people could ever imagine.” To provide sufferers and people affected by the suffering of people close to them with a creative outlet, she has launched “Putting Our Heads Together” Poetry Contest 2006, saying, “We will publish all qualified entries to our Help for Headaches and Migraine Web site in April, National Poetry Month. It’s my hope that these writings will also aid nonsufferers in understanding the impact of headaches and Migraine disease.”

The "Putting Our Heads Together" Poetry Contest 2006 is now open for submissions. The contest is open to anyone, subject to these contest rules:

~ The subject must be headache or Migraine related, but may be metaphoric or abstract.

~ Form: Rhymed, free-verse, any form of poetry, but not prose.

~ Poetry must be original and written by the person submitting it.

~ All poems must be unpublished work, never before published anywhere.

~ Length: Maximum of 60 lines, no more than 80 characters per line (including spaces and punctuation).

~ No more than three poems per person.

~ "Family-friendly" language required. No profanity or other potentially offensive language.

~ You need not be a U.S. citizen to enter.

Submissions will be accepted from any country.

There is no entry fee for this contest. Entries will be judged by MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association (http://www.migraines.org). Tuesday, March 21, is the last day for submissions. More information and the online entry form can be found on Help for Headaches and Migraine at http://www.HelpForHeadaches.com.

About Teri Robert

Teri Robert is a health writer and patient advocate. In 2004, she received the National Headache Foundation’s (http://www.headaches.org) “Patient Partner Award.” The About.com “Guide” for Headaches and Migraine (http://headaches.about.com) she also serves as the support advisor for MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association. She is also the author of “Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You… That You Need To Know,” published by HarperCollins.

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