| Headache on the Hill 2025: The Power of Community in Action |
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| From March 17ā18, 256 advocates from across 45 states and the District of Columbia gathered in Washington, D.C. for our largest-ever our signature event, Headache on the Hill (HOH). Representing a growing coalition of patients, caregivers, youth, clinicians, and researchers, we came together with a shared mission: to speak truth to power and demand better policies for those living with headache and migraine disorders.It was a powerful two days of advocacy, learning, healing, and connectionāand weāre so grateful to everyone who made it possible. To our advocates who traveled from across the country, to our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and to our dedicated board members who helped guide our visionāthank you. You brought compassion, courage, and determination to every corner of this event. šļø What We Asked For On the Hill During meetings on the Hill, advocates urged lawmakers to support three key issues that would improve access to care and expand protections for people living with chronic pain and headache disorders: Safe Step Act: Reins in step therapy practices that force patients to try and fail insurer-preferred medications before getting the treatment their provider recommends. Safeguarding NIH Research Funding: Support strong funding for NIH research and oppose cuts. Expand womenās health research and funding through the lifestages. Support for robust funding for the Headache Centers of Excellence within the Veterans Health Administration: Allocate at least $30 million in FY26 to sustain and expand these critical centers. š£ Didnāt make it to D.C.? You can still raise your voice and ask people in your life to do as well. |
| Take Action Today via the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy! |
| Headache on the Hill Highlights |
 š¼ 256 participants from 45 states joined forces to conduct 248 meeting with lawmakers and elevate the urgent needs of the headache community. š Youth programming debuted this year, welcoming 20 youth advocatesāour largest youth group ever. We created new youth specific training led by The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, and youth then joined new special youth programming on site at HOH in partnership with Migraine at School and U.S. Pain Foundation. Sessions focused on storytelling, the science of headache, and creative expression through art and writing. š¤ We launched our first-ever Affinity Groups, creating intentional spaces for connection, reflection, and identity-based advocacy. Groups included: -BIPOC Advocates -LGBTQIA+ Advocates -Caregivers -Veterans & First Responders -Clinicians & Researchers -Non-Migraine Headache Disorders (including those with cluster headache, New Daily Persistent Headache, and oro-facial pain disorders.) Weāre especially proud to have increased representation from advocates living with non-migraine headache disorders this year! š§¾ The brand-new Membership Tabling Hour spotlighted the work of our partner organizations, encouraging collaboration and learning across the field. š§āāļø Headache Care Rooms, made possible through partnership with Chronic Migraine Awareness and The Headache Alliance, were offered both at the hotel and on the Hillāgiving advocates dedicated space to rest, recover, and decompress. This new feature was a much-needed support for our advocates and one weāre proud to have introduced. š§ In partnership with the Headache and Migraine Policy Forum, we hosted the annual Capitol Hill Policy Forum on womenās headache health across the lifespan, centering patient stories and expert voices from childhood and adolescence to menopause and beyond. The event featured recorded remarks from Senator Marsha Blackburn and Representative Erin Houchin. š½ļø Our first HOH Awards Dinner was a moving night of celebration and community.We honored Bob Wold with the Heroism in Headache Advocacy Award for his decades of passionate work elevating cluster headache voices.We also announced a new scholarship fund in honor of AHDA founder Dr. Robert Shapiro, which will support advocates living on Social Security Disability to attend future HOH eventsāadvancing our commitment to equity in advocacy.š§āāļø Our Post-HOH Healing After the Hill Virtual Gathering focused on reflection, self-compassion, and self-care after a powerful week of advocacy with the help of Dr. Susan McCrea and Shirley Kessel. |
| What’s Next? |
 š£ Proclamation Webinar: Kickoff to Awareness Month Tuesday, April 8 at 1PM ET Join us to learn how to request a proclamation for Migraine and Headache Awareness Month in your state or cityāand be part of our historic National Mall Installation this June. Register today! |
 Headache on the Hill: Flags for Migraine and Headache Awareness May 31st – June 14thOur flag installation is fast approaching and weāre making great strides towards our fundraising goal but we need your help to make this vision a reality. You can help by creating a fundraising page, donating or organizing a pop-up installation in your hometown! Weāll also need lots of volunteers in Washington DC on May 31st to install the flags! Sign up for a volunteer shift! |
 Stay Tuned: Virtual Headache on the HillFall 2025 Applications for our Fall Virtual Headache on the Hill will open early summer 2025! |
| Thank You to Our Partners & Sponsors! |
| Headache on the Hill is a massive undertaking and we are grateful for the partnership and support of so many. Your support helped ensure this was our biggest and most successful Headache on the Hill to date!Ā Organizational Sponsors: Headache Cooperative of the Pacific Scholarship Supporters: American Headache Society,Ā American Migraine Foundation,Ā Miles for Migraine Silver Sponsor: PfizerĀ Training & Materials Sponsors:AbbVie,Ā Lundbeck,Ā Eli Lilly,Ā Impel Youth Programming Sponsor: Theranica Youth Programming Materials In-Kind DonorsGive Kids Art,Ā The Crayon Project Headache Care Room In-Kind Support: LMNT,Ā TheraICE,Ā Migrastil,Ā Kanjo,Ā Chronic Migraine Awareness,Ā Darcy Bonjour, Jenn Heater Silent Auction Donors: Longwood Gardens, Wawa Foundation,Ā Miles for Migraine,Ā With Love By Becks,Ā PureWine,Ā Theraspecs,Ā Norblighting,Ā Ruhewell,Ā Somnilight,Ā Releaf Packs,Ā Staten Island Ferryhawks,Ā Oriental Trading,Ā Laurenās Hope,Ā Gourmet Gift Baskets,Ā Facial Pain Association,Ā Philadelphia Orchestra, Lisa Benson, Bob Wold, Anna Williams, Eileen Brewer, Nancy Harris Bonk, Alicia Friedman And an enormous thank you to ourĀ volunteersāfrom planning and logistics to on-site support, you were the glue that held HOH together. We couldnāt have done this without you. We also extend deep appreciation to ourĀ board membersĀ from bothĀ AHDAĀ andĀ THA, and toĀ Jennifer Shropshire, who facilitated our jointĀ Board RetreatĀ ahead of HOH. This retreat helped chart the future of our organizations and our shared commitment to advocacy, inclusion, and impact.  |
| šļø HOH in the Media |
| ā “Our work is more critical than ever. The policies we advocate for today will determine access to treatment and quality of care for years to come. We are not just fighting for ourselvesāwe are fighting for future generations so that our struggles are no longer theirs. Thank you for being a part of this movement!” Julienne Verdi (she/her) Executive Director Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy The Headache Alliance |
