AiArthritis logo showing stylized infinite loop symbol in red with black dots, above organization name for International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis.

600 million


PEOPLE WORLDWIDE  WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS EVENT

60+


NUMBER OF COUNTRIES THIS EVENT HAS REACHED

1


YOU x 1,000's OF OTHERS!
TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE IMPACT
World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day:  A Race to Awareness

This international event established by our nonprofit in 2012 is held on May 20th annually - for the duration of May 20th through ALL time zones... (That's 47 straight hours of awareness!)

But in 2020, we are putting the awareness pedal to the metal by hosting our nonprofit's inaugural charity fundraising event - the AUTO Ball - on Saturday, May 2nd. It will double as the official Launch Party to countdown to World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day and part of the festivities will be shared LIVE on social media. So EVERYONE can be part of the "launch", even from your sofa half way around the world!

Event Honorary Chair
Angela Durazo

Angela Durazo is an inspiring person who not only lives with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), she is a former triathlete, award-winning actress, and the first female to enter the Formula 4 US Race Championship. While RA may have interrupted her professional world in triathlons, it didn't stop her from translating her passion for sports into another "vehicle" .... car racing. 

Like most patients, Angela "looks great" because AiArthritis diseases are typically invisible, as they attack the body on a cellular level from the inside out. Eventually the inflammation caused enough destruction that she underwent multiple shoulder surgeries and knee surgery, followed by months of more rehabilitation. "When I left triathletes I went into severe depression. Doing them was a big part of my identity - my work, my friends, it was everything I had and who I was. When I lost that I didn't know what to do. Auto racing has given me a second chance to be an athlete."  

At IFAA we call this 'finding your new normal', as these diseases affect our whole bodies, our whole lives, our jobs, our school, our relationships. And given onset is any age in children and 20-40 in adults, the physical limitations often are as important as the emotional and social implications. Ensuring our diseases and our associated challenges is understood by the public and our peers is vital to improving our quality of life.  

Angela made history in 2018 as the first female to enter the F4 US Championships. Not only did Durazo compete in the 37-car field of the USF4 series, she forged her F4 talent with a 1st place win in the Formula IMR Challenge series. She also secured two 2nd place podiums of the 6 race F4 Winter Championships series and she took home a notable 5th place in the Fp4 F4 West Coast Championships. Angela was coached by F1 Legend Tommy Bryne. 

Angela will be attending the Launch Party "AUTO Ball" in St. Louis, MO on Saturday, May 2nd, so either see her in person or participate ONLINE as we stream parts of the event to social media. Host your own "Launch Party" right along with us!

Then continue the awareness ALL MONTH LONG, leading up to and during World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day, May 20th!

Greater awareness is necessary to expedite early detection and diagnoses, increase a persons' chance for remission, and improve the quality of life for the 600 million people worldwide living with these diseases.

and aims to raise awareness about the AUTOimmune and AUTOinflammatory diseases that include inflammatory-driven arthritis (AiArthritis) as a major clinical component, by creatively incorporating an "AUTO" theme into the educational materials and activities. We also strongly focus on the need to differentiate arthritis types so the world better understands the type of arthritis associated with having an autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease is not the same as having other types (such as the most common form of Osteoarthritis).

May 2nd- the AUTO Ball & Launch Party

The AUTO Ball

The official countdown to World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day  (#AiArthritisDay) will start in conjunction with the AUTO Ball, an event in St. Louis, MO to benefit the International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis (IFAA). The AUTO Ball will be hosted at National Museum of Transportation - Earl C. Lindburg Auto Center on Saturday, May 2nd from 6pm - 10pm CST. But in keeping true to our reputation never to duplicate existing efforts and to always push the boundaries to achieve maximum results, attendees can plan that the AUTO Ball will not be a typical gala style event.

The AUTO Ball will include a "Pit Crew" Party (featuring cars from local car enthusiasts and sponsors), music entertainment, dinner, an interactive presentation that will combine organization impact updates with awareness activities, and LIVE social media action posts.

Guests will be asked to dress comfortable, but classy, as a tribute to people living with AiArthritis diseases who may experience challenges attending events due to fatigue, pain, and other common symptoms. They will also be asked to add "auto racing flair" to their outfits, which will become the hallmark of our awareness activities world wide. Awards will be given to attendees with the best auto racing flair.

Join some of IFAA's key staff and patient volunteers, as well as Angela Durazo, our Honorary Chair, Formula 4 Race Car driver, and person living with an AiArthritis disease, as we put the pedal to the metal and jump start a new campaign that is sure to take awareness to next levels!
Online Launch Party

In conjunction with the AUTO Ball happening in St. Louis, MO, we will have a team hosting an ONLINE Global Launch Party on our Facebook, Twitter, and (NEW) Instagram accounts (@AiArthritisDay). So join us by tuning in and sharing the awareness activities we post.  Want to really get involved? Host a house party and have your guests dress up with auto racing themed flair.  Share your photos on social media to show your support! Use hashtag #AiArthritisDay!

World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day 
Race to Awareness : How to Get Involved


International Foundation for AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis (IFAA), established World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day  in 2012 and has been hosting the global event each year online in the form of a nonprofit 'race'. But this year we are changing gears. From the new AUTO Ball launch party to creatively crafted online, car-themed awareness activities, we are pulling out all the stops for 2020's event.  

In addition to developing creative car-themed awareness and educational materials to help the world better understand the autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that include arthritis as a major clinical component, we are inviting everyone around the globe to participate


May 20th - World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day

Official Launch Party & Countdown Begins 
The AUTO Ball, National Museum of Transportation - Earl C. Lindburg Auto Center in St. Louis, MO and ONLINE

The official countdown to World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day  (#AiArthritisDay) will begin  from the National Museum of Transportation - Earl C. Lindburg Auto Center on Friday, May 15th from 6pm - 10pm CST.  Angela Durazo, our Honorary Chair, will be our keynote speaker.
Also, whether on May 2nd OR ANY TIME DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, host your own AUTO-themed awareness party in honor of World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day. 
The AUTO Ball will also double as IFAA's annual charity fundraiser, which is fitting since World AiArthritis Day was our very first initiative as a nonprofit. Slideshow photos feature images from the location of the AUTO Ball.

FRIDAY MAY 15 - WEDNESDAY MAY 20

START YOUR ENGINES

World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day  officially starts when the clock strikes midnight on May 20th in the first time zone and ends when it strikes midnight in the last time zone (or 47 hours of continual global awareness).  But the awareness activities rev up starting Friday May 15thBOTH ONLINE AND AT THE OFFICIAL 'AUTO BALL' LAUNCH PARTY (in St. Louis, MO). 


HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:

Join the Social Media Activities

IFAA's Inaugural AUTO Ball will serve not only as a benefit to raise money for the work we do as a nonprofit, it will also double as the official launch party and countdown to World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day on May 20th, 2020. During the AUTO Ball, we will introduce creative auto-themed awareness activities that will be shared on our social media sites. 

Wear AUTO racing Flair

Whether attending the inaugural AUTO Ball launch party or hosting an awareness activity of your own, we encourage everyone to creatively add "auto-racing themed flair" to their attire. The easiest option? Add a checker flag accent item to signify our race to the FINISH LINE!

Plan YOUR Event
Today

Auto-themed awareness or educational activities YOU plan in honor of World AUTOimmune & AUTOinflammatory Arthritis Day may be shared at the AUTO Ball and/or the official event social media pages. MUST USE HASHTAG #AiArthritisDay

 

Nonprofit Partners

Over the years 3 dozen plus nonprofit organizations around the world have united to drive awareness. Together we are stronger! Register to be a nonprofit participant below.
Nonprofit Registration

Become a 
Sponsor

We cannot do our work without help from our sponsors. 
Whether financial support of the event, company promotions in store or online, or in-kind donations, we have several opportunities for your company to show you care about this community. 
Contact Us
Auto-themed awareness materials and ideas about ways you can participate will be available starting in April, which can be to help you teach others about our diseases. Sign up below to stay informed when they are available. 

Join the Race for Awareness - Together We Can DRIVE Impact!

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