Heart Disease Awareness Month is celebrated in the month of February with the signature color being red. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than six hundred thousand Americans each year, especially women. At least four hundred thousand deaths have occurred among American women, and they live with some form of the disease. The Caron Cassie James Foundation is here to bring awareness to this cause and educate people on how to be heart healthy.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Awareness is celebrated in the month of September, and the signature color is orange. The specific date is 9/22, and was symbolically chosen because the philadelphia chromosome thought to be acquired after birth, is formed when chromosomes 9 and 22 exchange some of their genetic material forming a new one. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia is the second most common category of blood cancer and is the rarest of the four major forms of leukemia. Leukemia involves the type of marrow cell that forms special white blood cells known as lymphocytes also called lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia. Where the cell changes take place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form red blood cells, some types of white blood cells, and platelets, the leukemia is called “myeloid.” (CML) is known by several other names, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, and chronic granulocytic leukemia. CML results from a change or mutation in the DNA of a single bone marrow cell. As a chronic leukemia, it typically progresses slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of (immature) irregular cells. While a normal white blood cell count is in the 5,000 to 10,000 range, in CML patients the count is typically between 50,000 and 500,000 at the time of diagnosis. Left unchecked, this cell overgrowth ultimately will lead to the patient’s death. The Caron Cassie James Foundation is here to bring awareness to this cause and educate people on how to get the proper information concerning this disease.

Domestic Violence Awareness month is celebrated in the month of October and the signature color is purple. Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors; including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks used by one intimate partner to another, adult or adolescent, to gain, regain, and maintain power; and to have control in a relationship. The abuser will use a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, and even kill current or former intimate partners. The Caron Cassie James Foundation is here to bring awareness to this cause and educate victims on how to seek help, learn about the signs, or potentially avoid these situations.

Diabetes Awareness month is celebrated in the month of November and the signature color is blue. Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, usually occurring in genetically predisposed individuals, characterized by inadequate production or utilization of insulin and resulting in excessive amounts of glucose in the blood and urine, excessive thirst, weight loss, and in some cases progressive destruction of small blood vessels, leading to such complications as infections and gangrene of the limbs or blindness. Nearly 26 million adults and children in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 Diabetes. The Caron Cassie James Foundation is here to bring awareness to this cause and educate people on how to prevent this disease, and if one already has been diagnosed with diabetes, then we are here to provide resources on how to live normal and healthy lives with the disease.