More than 1 in 3 people worldwide are living with a brain or spine condition. Neurological conditions are now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide, affecting 3.4 billion people and causing approximately 11.1 million deaths yearly. Some of the neurological conditions with the highest overall rates of disability, illness, and mortality include stroke, Alzheimer’s and dementia, migraine, epilepsy, meningitis, and nervous system (brain and spine) cancer.
Barrow Neurological Institute is an international leader in neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroscience research. Our physicians push the boundaries of accepted medical norms to take on the most challenging and complex cases, providing hope to patients and families who have run out of options. Led by President and CEO Michael T. Lawton, MD, one of the world’s top neurosurgeons, Barrow is among the busiest centers for neurology and neurosurgery in the United States.
As a Barrow Neurological Foundation donor, your support reaches far and wide, touching the lives of patients and their families, medical professionals, and communities worldwide. One of the easiest ways to raise funds for neurological research and treatment at Barrow is by creating your own Facebook or Instagram fundraiser. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process step by step!
Simple Steps to Create Your Own Fundraiser for Neurological Research and Treatment
- Log in to your Facebook account.
- Locate and select ‘Fundraisers’ on the Facebook sidebar menu.
- Search for ‘Barrow Neurological Foundation.’
- Under ‘Nonprofits’, you should see Barrow Neurological Foundation. Tap ‘Create fundraiser.’
- Customize your fundraiser!
- Choose how much you want to raise and how long you want your fundraiser to last.
- If you want to raise funds for a specific neurological condition or Barrow program, include it in your fundraiser title. For example, ‘My fundraiser for Alzheimer’s disease’ or ‘My fundraiser for the Barrow Alzheimer’s & Memory Disorders Program.’ Click here to browse all of our programs
- Tell your family and friends why you’re raising funds. We’ve also provided language for you to customize.
- Add a cover photo.
- Share with your network!
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap ‘Create New’ at the bottom or swipe right anywhere on your feed.
- Create or choose your image and tap ‘Next.’
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap ‘More Options.’ Tap ‘Add Fundraiser.’
- Select ‘Barrow Neurological Foundation’ as the nonprofit you want to fundraise for.
- Tap ‘Edit Fundraiser’ to get to the Fundraiser Details page.
- Customize your fundraiser!
- Choose how much you want to raise and how long you want your fundraiser to last.
- If you want to raise funds for a specific neurological condition or Barrow program, include it in your fundraiser title. For example, ‘My fundraiser for Alzheimer’s disease’ or ‘My fundraiser for the Barrow Alzheimer’s & Memory Disorders Program.’ Click here to browse all of our programs.
- Let your family and friends know why you’re raising funds.
- Tap ‘Share.’
- Once your fundraiser is live, share it on your Instagram feed and stories. Use hashtags related to your cause to reach a larger audience.
Join our Current Instagram Fundraiser
- Go to the BNF Instagram profile (@supportbarrow) and tap on the current fundraiser with this icon:
- Tap ‘Share’ and then choose how you want to join and share the fundraiser: ‘Profile’, ‘Story’, or ‘Post.’
- Follow the prompts, and you’re ready to go live!
Ideas for Getting Started on Your Facebook or Instagram Fundraiser
You can create a fundraiser for Barrow Neurological Foundation any time, place, or day—that’s the beauty of social media! But if you’re looking to dedicate your fundraiser to something special, here are a few ideas:
- Birthday fundraiser—celebrate your special day by making a difference in the lives of Barrow patients.
- Honor a loved one—if someone close to you is battling a neurological disease, you can create a fundraiser in their honor. You can also honor the memory of a loved one with a fundraiser.
- Awareness days and months—special days and months throughout the year are dedicated to raising awareness for specific neurological conditions. This is a perfect time to create a fundraiser! Check out the month-by-month list we’ve compiled below.
Neurological Awareness Days and Months
January
- Mental Wellness Month
- CTE Awareness Day (Jan. 30)
February
- World Cancer Day (Feb. 4)
- World Encephalitis Day (Feb. 22)
- Rare Disease Day (Feb. 28)
March
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
- Brain Injury Awareness Month
- Essential Tremor Awareness Month
- Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness (March 26)
April
- Parkinson’s Awareness Month
- Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month
- World Parkinson’s Day (April 11)
May
- ALS Awareness Month
- Brain Tumor Awareness Month
- Stroke Awareness Month
- National Nurses Week (May 6-11)
- National Neuroscience Nurses Week (May 11-17)
June
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness Month
- National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
July
- Glioblastoma Awareness Day (July 17)
September
- National Aneurysm Awareness Month
- National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month
- National Rehabilitation Awareness Week (Sept. 14-20)
October
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Pituitary Disorder Awareness Month
- Spine Health Awareness Month
November
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
How Your Facebook and Instagram Fundraisers Impact Barrow Patients
In January 2020, Dave Allen suffered a massive stroke that caused severe damage to his brain. The first thing he heard when he woke up in the hospital was his daughter crying. “Dad, you’ve been in a coma for months.”
Dave’s recovery hasn’t been easy, but thanks to the amazing team at Barrow, he can walk again, has improved his speech and cognition, bought a house, and learned to drive again. You can read his inspiring story here.
By fundraising for Barrow Neurological Foundation, you help advance cutting-edge research, treatment, and care for patients just like Dave. Start your Facebook or Instagram fundraiser today, or make a one-time donation here.