Tampa, FL – Beautifully Unblemished Vitiligo Support Group, founded by Tonja Johnson, will host a celebration in honor of World Vitiligo Day (June 25th). Theme: “Loving the Skin You’re In”.
Beautifully Unblemished is committed to promoting Vitiligo awareness and providing valuable resources to help people deal with the impact that vitiligo has on their lives.
This year for World Vitiligo Day, Saturday, June 25, 2022. 3 surrounding cities (City of Lakeland, City of Tampa, and City of Orlando) will light up in purple in recognition of bringing awareness to Vitiligo and celebrating those individuals living with Vitiligo.
WHAT: Light up Florida to bring awareness to Vitiligo and recognized those individuals living with Vitiligo
WHEN: Saturday, June 25, 2022, at sundown
WHERE:
- City of Tampa Locations:
Old City Hall, 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, FL 33602, Riverwalk, Straz Center of Performing Arts, Fortune Street Bridge, Kennedy Street Bridge, Platt Street Bridge and Borein Street Bridge.
- City of Lakeland Location: City Hall, 228 S. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland Fl
- City of Lakeland Location: City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, Amway Center, 400 W. Church St., Orlando, Lake Eola 512 E. Washington St., The Orlando sign I-4 E, Colonial Drive Overpass, several abstracts will be lit in purple including Tower of Light, Astrogenesis, Global Convergence, Cedar of Lebanon, and Take Flight.
DETAILS: In alignment with the official World Vitiligo Day, June 25th, the city of Lakeland’s Mayor Bill Mutz, Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor, Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Governor Ron DeSantis all presented Proclamations to bring awareness to Vitiligo. City of Lakeland, Tampa, and Orlando will illuminate their cities in purple to bring awareness and celebrate those individuals living with Vitiligo.
About Vitiligo:
Vitiligo is a condition that causes some or all areas of the skin to lose color. The color of your skin depends on melanin. If a person has vitiligo, the cells that produce melanin stop functioning or die. Anyone can be diagnosed with vitiligo, but it is sometimes more noticeable in people with darker skin.
People diagnosed with vitiligo have no way of knowing how much pigment they will lose or how rapidly it will or will not diminish. Although, vitiligo isn’t life-threatening, it is life altering in many ways. While there is no cure there are communities and groups like Beautifully Unblemished, who provide support and resources for individuals and their families with Vitiligo. Vitiligo can set in during childhood, making the process of learning about your body and identity even more difficult. People with vitiligo are often bullied because of their looks, but they also get many insults from people who are not necessarily trying to hurt them