Foley Declares Nov. 2 Color the World Orange Day, Will Light Pedestrian Bridge for CRPS Awareness

FOLEY, Ala. — The city of Foley will go orange this fall. The Foley City Council has proclaimed Nov. 2 as Color the World Orange Day, adding the Baldwin County city to an international campaign that raises awareness of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a chronic pain condition better known by its initials, CRPS.

Residents are being encouraged to wear orange on Nov. 2, and that evening the city will light the Foley Pedestrian Bridge in orange to recognize those whose lives are affected by the condition.

A Personal Request

The proclamation came at the request of Anna Beck, who attended a City Council meeting to accept the recognition. The proclamation appeared on the council’s Sept. 21 agenda.

For Beck, the cause is personal. Her boyfriend lives with CRPS, and she has seen up close how the condition can complicate everyday life.

Beck sought the proclamation to bring more attention to CRPS and to show support for the people and families living with it.

City proclamations like this one are a common way for local governments to recognize causes, observances and community members. They do not create new laws or spend public money on programs; instead, they put the city’s voice behind an awareness effort and give residents an occasion to take part.

What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that usually affects an arm or a leg, and it often develops after an injury. It was once known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or RSD, which is why the awareness campaign refers to the condition as CRPS/RSD.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, CRPS can cause prolonged and severe pain and inflammation. The pain can be far more intense than would normally be expected from the original injury, and for some people even a light touch can be extremely painful.

Other symptoms the institute describes include:

• Swelling in the affected area
• Changes in skin temperature or color
• Stiffness
• Abnormal sweating
• Other changes in the affected limb

Symptoms and their severity vary from person to person. In severe or long-lasting cases, CRPS can significantly limit mobility and make daily activities difficult.

Medical professionals generally describe two forms of the condition. CRPS type I, which corresponds to what was formerly called RSD, occurs without a confirmed nerve injury, while CRPS type II follows a confirmed injury to a nerve.

Anyone experiencing persistent or unusual pain after an injury should talk with a doctor, who can evaluate symptoms and discuss options.

About Color the World Orange

Color the World Orange is held every year on the first Monday of November to promote awareness of CRPS/RSD. The international campaign asks individuals to wear orange and invites communities to light buildings, bridges and landmarks in orange in honor of people living with the condition.

This year’s observance on Monday, Nov. 2, marks the 13th annual Color the World Orange Day.

Orange has become the signature color of CRPS awareness, and on the day of the campaign, supporters often share photos of orange clothing and illuminated landmarks to spread the word.

Living With a Condition Others Can’t See

One of the challenges often described by people with chronic pain conditions is that much of what they experience is invisible to others. A person with CRPS may look outwardly well while dealing with significant pain, and because the condition can make even light contact painful, ordinary activities — getting dressed, a handshake, a breeze across the skin — can become difficult. Partners, parents and other family members frequently take on extra responsibilities and become advocates, as Beck has done in asking her city to recognize the day.

Awareness days give families like hers a chance to explain what the condition is and to connect with others who understand. They also help people who may be experiencing unexplained symptoms after an injury learn that CRPS exists and that a doctor can evaluate it.

How Foley Will Mark the Day

Foley’s observance has two main parts:

• Wear orange: Residents are encouraged to wear orange on Monday, Nov. 2, to help raise awareness of CRPS.
• Orange bridge: The City of Foley will illuminate the Foley Pedestrian Bridge in orange that evening in recognition of Color the World Orange Day and those affected by CRPS.

How Residents Can Take Part

Participating in Foley’s observance is simple and open to everyone:

• Wear orange to work, school or around town on Nov. 2.
• Stop by to see the Foley Pedestrian Bridge lit in orange that evening.
• Share photos of orange outfits or the illuminated bridge to help spread awareness of CRPS.
• Learn more about CRPS from reliable sources such as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• Reach out to friends, neighbors or family members who live with chronic pain and offer support.

Why Awareness Matters

Because CRPS can produce pain that seems out of proportion to an injury, and because symptoms vary so widely, people living with the condition may find that others do not fully understand what they are experiencing. Awareness campaigns aim to help the public, employers, schools and families better recognize the condition and the challenges it can bring.

Beck’s request reflects that goal. By asking her city to recognize the day, she has given Foley residents a visible way to show people living with CRPS — and those who care for them — that their community stands with them.

Foley joins communities around the world that will mark the 13th annual observance on Nov. 2. For residents of south Baldwin County, an orange glow over the pedestrian bridge that night will serve as a reminder of that message.