Earlier this week, the Scleroderma Foundation launched a website dedicated solely to scleroderma awareness activities. This is the first time the organization has created a website to promote June's Scleroderma Awareness Month. The goal is to get more people to tell others about how the disease has changed his/her lives, no matter if you're a patient, family member, caregiver, friend, volunteer or health care professional.

The Foundation selected the theme - "I. AM. SCLERODERMA." for this year's campaign to show the world that scleroderma doesn't define a person, but the person defines scleroderma. Through the website, people can share their stories, download special artwork for Facebook and other social networking sites, purchase scleroderma awareness gear and find helpful resources to spark conversations about the disease.

There's also an opportunity to submit a Scleroderma Doodle, or Sclerodoodle, for the chance to win a trip to the National Patient Education Conference in Dallas this July. You have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, to submit your artwork. Then, a panel of judges will select the top 20 finalists. It will then be up to website visitors to pick the grand prize winner. The winner will win full registration, hotel room and airfare to this year's conference; plus, his/her artwork will appear on special merchandise that will be available for purchase later in June. (Note: Please click here for the full contest rules and limitations.)

For more information about Scleroderma Awareness Month, please visit www.sclerodermaawareness.org.