Entries Sought for Migraine and Headache Poetry Contest

ARLINGTON, Va., March 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Migraine disease and headaches can be debilitating, causing sufferers to feel increasingly isolated. Migraine disease affects nearly 36 million people in the United States alone, and at least 80% of the world's population will be affected by tension-type headaches at some time in their lives.

Author and patient advocate Teri Robert has been experiencing headaches and Migraine attacks from childhood and encourages sufferers to find creative ways to express their pain and emotions. "Writing can be very therapeutic, as can reading what others have written," said Robert. "Migraine disease and headaches can impact our lives more than many people could ever imagine." To provide sufferers and those affected by the suffering of people close to them with a creative outlet, she has launched "Putting Our Heads Together" Poetry Contest 2007. All qualified entries will be published to MyMigraineConnection.com and HelpForHeadaches.com on April 30, in recognition of National Poetry Month. "It's my hope that these writings will also aid non-sufferers in understanding the impact of headaches and Migraine disease," said Robert, who currently educates and supports patients as Lead Expert for the MyMigraineConnection.com community.

The "Putting Our Heads Together" Poetry Contest 2007 is now open for submissions. The contest is open to anyone, subject to these contest rules:

  --  The subject must be headache or Migraine related, but may be
      metaphoric or abstract.
  --  Form: Rhymed, free-verse, any form of poetry, but not prose.
  --  Poetry must be original and written by the person submitting it.
  --  All poems must be unpublished work, never before published anywhere.
  --  Length: Maximum of 60 lines, no more than 80 characters per line
      (including spaces and punctuation).
  --  No more than three poems per person.
  --  Age: Poems written by persons under 18 years of age must be submitted
      by a parent or legal guardian.
  --  "Family-friendly" language required. No profanity or other potentially
      offensive language.
  --  You need not be a U.S. citizen to enter. Submissions will be accepted
      from any country.

There is no entry fee for this contest. Entries will be judged by MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association (http://www.migraines.org/). Friday, April 13, is the last day for submissions. More information and the online entry form can be found on MyMigraineConnection at http://www.mymigraineconnection.com/ or Help for Headaches and Migraine at http://www.helpforheadaches.com/.

About Teri Robert

TERI ROBERT is a health writer and patient advocate. In 2004, she received the National Headache Foundation's (http://www.headaches.org/) "Patient Partner Award." Formerly the About.com "Guide" for Headaches and Migraines, Robert is now the Lead Expert at MyMigraine Connection.com, a part of The HealthCentral Network. She also produces a weekly podcast about Migraine disease, headaches, and related issues called "MigraineCast" (http://www.migrainecast.com/) and serves as the support advisor for MAGNUM, the National Migraine Association. Robert is the author of "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You ... That You Need To Know," published by HarperCollins.

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (http://www.healthcentral.com/) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth, and trusted medical information, personalized tools and resources, and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

The HealthCentral Network recently launched personal health tools, including the most comprehensive web solution for caregivers managing their communities of friends and families (http://www.carecentral.com/). The company also produces the nationally syndicated television show Medical Breakthroughs with Dr. Dean Edell, and has a library of nearly 1,000 short-form, condition- specific videos throughout its network.

The HealthCentral Network was acquired in 2005 by Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company, and has built a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism. The company received top recognition from The International Health and Medical Media Awards with a 2006 FREDDIE Award for MyDiabetesCentral.com and the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.