Local Ooltewah teen Kaitlyn McAfee, has reached out to Governor Bill Haslam for the last four years to ask him to proclaim June as National Scoliosis Awareness Month.
Ms. McAfee, diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12 has been an advocate for scoliosis awareness since her own diagnosis. Since her spinal fusion surgery, she founded Color the Curve the official fundraising event of the National Scoliosis Foundation, donating nearly $60,000 for scoliosis research. She created The Curve Scoliosis, the official state-wide support group for scoliosis. Ms. McAfee serves on the National Scoliosis Foundations Angel Brigade, as co-fundraising director for the National Scoliosis Foundation and plans to offer free scoliosis screenings to middle school age children this fall.
"Early detection of scoliosis is important and schools in Tennessee are no longer required to screen for it," officials said. "Kaitlyn is a strong advocate for early detection and supporting anyone facing a scoliosis diagnosis."
For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/colorthecurve.
The next Color the Curve event will be a glow run held on June 30, 2018 at Coolidge Park. Participants from all over the world are expected to participate. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Severe scoliosis can be disabling.