Red Shoe day

Pretty red shoes.

Gear up for Tuesday, July 25th with red shoes for a great cause. Any type. Any style. The only rule? They must be red.

International Red Shoe Day remembers and celebrates all those who have passed away from Lyme disease and other “invisible diseases” such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. It was founded in memory of Theda Myint of Australia, who passed away from Lyme disease on July 25, 2013.

The year she died, her government continued to insist Lyme disease did not exist in that country — though many of its citizens were seriously ill from it. This day has quickly become established as an annual remembrance day to remember ​not only Theda, but all those others who are lost to Lyme and other invisible illnesses around the world.

Vivian created a hat in honour of International Red Shoe Day to help raise awareness. Hattingdon chose an unforgettable, attention-grabbing red stiletto fashion hat.

Theda Hattingdon.

International Red Shoe Day has also become a day to celebrate the importance of shoes, and to raise awareness of the millions of children who don’t have them.

People around the world are encouraged to donate new or gently used shoes to charity. In Australia, the charity that receives the most donations on International Red Shoe Day is Reach Out Australia, which helps provide shoes and footwear for children in need.

You can help

Share Theda’s story. Donate new or gently used shoes locally. Thank you!

Related reading

• More about Theda and her journey can be seen at :  Lyme Australia Recognition and Awareness (Theda Myint).

Global Lyme & Invisible Illness Organisation »

Lyme Disease, CDC (Center for Disease Control). Note: Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States.

Featured image: Pretty red shoes. Image not cited.


Red Shoe Day

Red stilettos featured image for red shoe day post.

In “Well Dressed. Well Said. Well Read.”, its author Heather writes the following about Red Shoe Day:

“Red Shoe Day is actually a day of remembrance where those who suffer and/or pass away from invisible illnesses are recognized.”

“The day was created in remembrance of Theda Myint, who died of Lyme disease, but it has since been expanded to include all illnesses that don’t exhibit obvious physical symptoms.”

“For me, that includes mental illness. As a lifelong sufferer of depression, I can attest only too well to the stigma and struggle of battling an invisible illness. So on this day I will proudly wear my red shoes in solidarity with the countless others who struggle as well.”

How about a hat?

We were determined to support Red Shoe Day. But how could we besides wearing red shoes — which we, and our staff and families and friends, are doing.

Hattingdon is of course a hat wearing cartoon horse. So the challenge was to create a Hattingdon, in some way shape or form, wearing a red shoe to help draw attention to this issue. Vivian chose a red stiletto — not knowing how in the world she was going to make a hat out of it.

“My dear colleagues (ahem) reckoned that even I could not make a hat for Hattingdon from a red stiletto,” says Vivian. The challenge was accepted. And met. “They will be singing from that Beatles song I shoulda known better with a girl like you. That I would love everything that you do. And I do. Hey hey hey. And I do.”

Vivian named the design . . . . Theda. Here is the hat.

Theda.

Is this, or is this not, crazy and wonderful? Now that should grab some attention! Which is what we want — to draw attention and raise awareness for Red Shoe Day / International Red Shoe Day. We have agreed that you can download the image and share it on social media using the hashtags listed below — in support of this important cause. Thank you!

Red stilettos featured image for red shoe day post.

Links and tags

Red Shoe Day and International Red Shoe Day, July 25th, since 2013.

Founded by Global Lyme & Invisible Illness Organization

Hashtags #InternationalRedShoeDay, #RedShoeDay

Source www.globallymeinvisibleillness.org


Hattingdon H Logo in her signature brown.

© Vivian J Grant. All Rights Reserved.