There are so many amazing organizations and groups across this connected hip world. The hip bone is connected to the thigh bone rings a bell. You get the idea!
Miles4Hips is another organization which is supporting hip dysplasia awareness and was recently featured on the Hip Hope Network's International Hip Health Day on May 30th. So I wanted to dig a little deeper to see the why behind the organization. In the words of Simon Sinek, "“If you can clearly articulate the dream or the goal, start."
So here is the start for Miles4Hips.
What is the why behind the forming of your organization?
The “Why” behind forming our
organization, Miles4Hips, begins with
our founder, Nancy Muir. It was
originally about following her journey
through running an ultramarathon
and raising money for the
International Hip Dysplasia Institute
or IHDI. She never intended to create
a non-profit, but just a website to
help track the proceeds that she
raised for the IHDI and to keep her
followers updated throughout the
race. But, it became so much more.
Once the race was over. The passion never faded and she
decided to continue on with Miles4Hips. She found others with similar passions for
raising awareness and that where active in the hip dysplasia community to form the
founding board for Miles4Hips. Nancy realized as a patient and health practitioner
(physical therapist), there where many areas lacking in the hip dysplasia field and
community as a whole that she could help bring awareness to and fill the gaps.
Miles4Hips fills those needs to a community and helps bridge the gap between patient
and practitioner through advocacy and awareness.
What do you see as the primary role of Miles4Hips?
We have four main objectives at Miles4Hips:
Raise awareness, educate and support hip dysplasia patients/families, surgeons, other healthcare professionals and researchers.
Provide accurate, un-biased patient-friendly information and resources for hip dysplasia patients and other non-experts.
Develop and support fundraising efforts that contribute to the mission of the IHDI
Build community and collaboration between patients, IHDI staff, researchers, surgeons and other medical providers to encourage and support hip dysplasia awareness and advocacy.
Who is your primary audience?
Our primary audience is hip dysplasia patients and families
What are some ways that Miles4Hips helps to engage with the global hip community?
We engage with the global hip community through several different avenues. We do an annual or semi-annual t-shirt sale to raise awareness and raise money for the IHDI. We just finished up with one of them as we speak. The design was even created by a hip dysplasia patient via a contest we ran with the winning design being placed on the fundraiser t-shirt this year. We also do an annual “Day of Movement” where we promote getting
outside for at least 30 mins of exercise, movement, and fun. We encourage groups to
gather for activities, take pictures and videos and submit them to us for an annual video
montage to show what everyone around the world decided to do for their “movement.”
And of course, through it all we use social media as a tool to engage constantly.
Although you are an organization that focuses on pediatrics, many pediatric patients
grow up into adults. Will you also be supporting those adults who had/have pediatric
hip disorders?
We aim to serve the entire community of individuals with hip dysplasia including
infants and children, adolescents and adults, as well as their families and caregivers.
What type of research are you looking to be involved in? Miles4Hips has collaborated
with researchers around the world to help support projects related to hip dysplasia
including the development of a quality of life outcome measures and a study describing
the global experiences of patients with hip dysplasia.
If you could impart on hip patients one message as they travel through their journeys,
what would it be?
The biggest message I could impart on hip patients as they travel through their
journeys is to do thorough research, find a hip preservation specialist who was
fellowship-trained and to ask a lot of questions. Don’t be afraid ask the surgeon
questions. I would also get more than one opinion. The surgeon should be able to help
facilitate getting the second opinion through a referral or recommendation.
Does any music, song or poem speak to your message?
I have a personal quote by C.S. Lewis that I find motivational and relevant to the hip
dysplasia community. “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary
destiny.” As a hip dysplasia patient, caregiver, etc., the journey is hard, but I find that so
many come out stronger, more confident in their capabilities and more resilient from
what they’ve had to endure. I feel that C.S. Lewis couldn’t be speaking to a more
relevant community!
What is your organization's mission statement?
Miles4Hips is a patient-driven, collaborative initiative between individuals affected by
hip dysplasia and the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI), the global leader in
educational, research, and technological initiatives aimed at prevention, early
diagnosis, and innovative treatment options to minimize the long-term impacts of hip
dysplasia. We are dedicated to raising hip dysplasia awareness, supporting the efforts
of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI), providing information and
resources for the hip dysplasia community, and promoting the enjoyment of movement
and miles in all people for healthy hips and minds.
From my hopeful hips to yours, this is another demonstration that we are all connected at the hip!