Each year millions of mostly older adults will suffer a devastating hip fracture caused by a simple fall. Millions more will suffer fractures of the wrist, shoulder, pelvis or spine. These fractures are no accident! It is likely that the underlying cause is osteoporosis (International Osteoporosis Foundation World Osteoporosis Day 2012).

October 20, 2012 is World Osteoporosis Day!  How will you bring awareness to this day and bone health?   

Join me in welcoming a good friend who advocates for osteoporosis, exercise and volunteers her time to promote osteoporosis awareness and advocacy!  Sandi Elkin gives generously of her time, at the National Osteoporosis Foundations discussion forum, as their volunteer moderator and Group Leader.  Welcome Sandi!

More about Sandi:

Sandi, how did you get involved in osteoporosis advocacy?

Becoming an osteoporosis advocate was a natural progression. I started to get small whispers in my mind that once I found my way with bone loss, I would use my voice and experience to help other people newly diagnosed with osteoporosis.

How long have you had osteoporosis and did this lead you into advocating for bone loss?

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis of both hips and spine in 1999. Being diagnosed at a younger age, I felt it was important to bring more awareness to osteoporosis and use my diagnosis as the impetus to make a difference.

What sort of things do you do to promote and advocate for bone loss?

Since my advocacy interest is exercise for osteoporosis, I educate fitness instructors to expand their knowledge for the exercise needs of people with osteoporosis.

How did you get involved with NOF?

NOF had a Linking Up list for women with osteoporosis/osteopenia. Some of the women from the list formed an online email chat group. Part of my group participation was having contact with NOF and requesting information on osteoporosis.

The email group decided to disband when we learned about the new NOF online community that was about to begin. At that time, a member of the email group suggested my name for volunteer work that I do for the NOF. I was privileged to be offered the NOF online community volunteer moderator position. I've been an online community volunteer moderator for NOF since October 2007.