The 2008 National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008, has announced this year’s theme: “Hope Can Grow From the Soil of Illness.”

Lisa Copen, the founder of Rest Ministries, Inc, who sponsors this annual event shares, “The journey of illness is often defined by the many losses one goes through and the grief of seeing their dreams disappear. Many people, however, eventually find a fresh passion that they could not have imagined they would have ever taken the time to discover before they were diagnosed with an illness.”

The month of August will feature bloggers on the topic of illness; each of them has found a new path, despite the dramatic unexpected changes illness had on their lives.

Copen, 39, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia at the age of 24 and clearly remembers wondering what her new purpose would be that would get her up on the mornings she could barely move.

“Until I was diagnosed, the plan had been to work for a nonprofit in the helping profession, but I struggled with this since I didn’t understand what my clients were going through. Ironically, the diagnoses of my illness, though scary, had a certain peace that passed my understanding. Now I have the chance to follow my new passion, which is to reach others with hope through my illness ministry and write books on aspects of coping with illness. It’s my aspiration to encourage others to find hope despite the daily pain. Copen acknowledges that oftentimes hope can come from just connecting with others who understand what you are going through. “Invisible Illness Week is a chance to share the deep emotional struggles, not just the physical ones,” she says. “Having some validation for what you are experiencing can help propel you forward to search for your purpose.

To learn more about the telephone seminars to be held September 8-12, the invisible illness week awareness outreach products and how to get involved, visit www.invisibleillness.com .