Project Sleep’s Founder Nominated for RareVoice Award

On behalf of Project Sleep’s Dream Team, I am proud to announce that Founder and President Julie Flygare has been nominated for a RareVoice Award in recognition of her work founding Project Sleep and the Narcolepsy: Not Alone campaign. Julie successfully led national efforts to secure narcolepsy’s place in FDA’s Patient Focused Drug Development Initiative – the first rare disease to be featured in the program. The RareVoice Awards, given by Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, honor individuals who go above and beyond to become policy leaders and advocates in their state or nation.  Julie is among a small group of patient advocate nominees being recognized for federal level advocacy.  Award winners will be announced during the RareVoice Awards Gala at the Arena Stage in Washington DC on November 13th.

While narcolepsy is what connected me to Julie originally, she has taught me to the importance of a united sleep disorder community.  Sleep disorders (like narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, insomnia, Kleine-Levin syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders) are invisible and overlooked, but we can band together to advocate for ourselves and for sleep as a pillar of health.  I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of Project Sleep and I am empowered knowing I am not alone as someone living with narcolepsy, someone living with a sleep disorder, and someone living with a rare disease.

Congratulations, Julie!