Our Awareness Ribbon

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At HERstory In Color, we believe colors tell a story—and our story begins with orange. Orange is the foundation of our ribbon and identity because it is a color of courage, resilience, and transformation. Spiritually, orange blends the joy of yellow with the passion of red, symbolizing both vitality and endurance. Across cultures, it represents wisdom, creativity, and the fire of renewal. For us, orange reflects the courage it takes to live with chronic illness, the creativity required to adapt to daily challenges, and the spiritual strength needed to keep moving forward.

But orange is only the beginning. At the forefront, we carry many colors, because no woman is defined by a single diagnosis. Just as one woman can embody multiple chronic illnesses, our ribbon reflects the intersections of many journeys—autoimmune, inflammatory, neurological, and beyond. Each color speaks to a layer of lived experience, and together, they create a powerful tapestry of resilience, advocacy, and community.

We also chose July as the month to shine a light on chronic diseases and comorbidities. While there is not yet a dedicated awareness month for comorbidities, July 10th marks Chronic Disease Awareness Day—a day chosen because 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. are chronic diseases. This observance calls for education, better healthcare access, and stronger support for those living with lifelong conditions. By anchoring our awareness efforts in July, we aim to highlight the complexity of comorbidities while honoring the strength of women navigating multiple diagnoses at once.

Our colors are more than symbols—they are a call to action. They remind us of the struggles faced, the voices that must be heard, and the collective power of women of color living with multiple chronic illnesses. At HERstory In Color, we wear orange and every color proudly, standing for resilience, advocacy, and the hope of a brighter future.