By Julienne Verdi
For The Headache Alliance
Community memorial walk from 30,000 purple flags to the Jefferson Memorial calls attention to migraine, headache disorders, and the mental health toll of disabling pain
Washington, D.C. — Patients, families, advocates, and supporters gathered Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., for the Walk for Headache Health, a community memorial and awareness event honoring people lost to migraine and headache disorders and offering hope to those still living with these disabling diseases.
The walk began beside the Flags for Headache installation at Raoul Wallenberg Mixed Use Field, where more than 30,000 purple flags are displayed to represent the millions of Americans living with migraine and other headache disorders. Participants walked with signs and candles along the Tidal Basin to the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, a meaningful route given Thomas Jefferson’s own history of severe, recurring headaches.
Presented in collaboration with The Headache Alliance, Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, Chronic Migraine Awareness and Clusterbusters, the Walk for Headache Health created a space for remembrance, grief, community, and hope during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Chris Charrett-Dykes of Chronic Migraine Awareness completed a 1000 mile walk in 100 days for Migraine and Headache at the start of the Walk of Headache Health.
“Tonight, we gathered in a different spirit,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of The Headache Alliance and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. “We are here to honor the people we have lost to migraine and headache disorders. We are here to honor those whose lives were cut short, those whose suffering was not fully understood, and those whose pain was too often invisible to the world around them. We are also here to acknowledge the mental health toll these diseases can take.”
During the program, Verdi read tributes submitted in memory of those whose lives were lost but continue to be honored through advocacy.
The event featured remarks from Catherine Charrett-Dykes, Founder of Chronic Migraine Awareness; Bob Wold of Clusterbusters; and Billy Dwyer, a mental health advocate who honored his sister, Melissa who died by suicide following a battle with chronic migraine and mental health. Together with Verdi, they led attendees in a moment of silence for those lost to migraine and headache disorders and for all those still carrying the weight of these diseases.
“The stigma around migraine keeps people from getting the help,” expressed Catherine Charrett-Dykes. “They need to understand migraine is a disease, it can become chronic in months and it can destroy lives. Help is available. You are not alone.” Chris’s walk of 1000 miles in 100 days is for all those affected by chronic migraine.
“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to carry my sister Melissa’s story forward at the Walk for Headache Health. In the 13 years following her death, our family has worked to share her experience with Chronic Migraine, and the debilitating nature of this disease. We will continue to advocate for a better future for those struggling with headache disorders–fighting for greater access to treatment and research. Thank you to AHDA and the broader community for continuing to uplift Melissa’s story,” said Billy Dwyer.
“I am here representing the 350,000 people in the US that currently suffer from the headache disorder known as Cluster Headaches,” explained Bob Wold. “I am honored to be the voice for the community that is here, to memorialize those people from our community that have lost their lives due to their cluster headaches. Scientifically, headaches are known as benign. All of the headaches in the lives of those we’ve lost, were not benign.”
Following the memorial program, participants walked with signs and candles from the Flags for Headache installation along the Tidal Basin to the steps of the Jefferson Memorial and back. The reflective walk offered participants an opportunity to honor loved ones, connect with community, and raise public awareness of diseases that are often invisible and misunderstood.
The Jefferson Memorial held particular significance for the walk. Thomas Jefferson lived with severe, recurring headaches throughout his life, including during his years of public service. As the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, advocates noted that headache disorders are not new and have long been part of the American story. What must change is how seriously these diseases are recognized, researched, treated, and supported today.
Migraine and headache disorders affect more than 40 million Americans and can have a profound impact on daily life, work, school, caregiving, and mental health. Conditions such as migraine, cluster headache, trigeminal neuralgia, new daily persistent headache, post-traumatic headache, and other headache disorders can cause severe pain, disability, isolation, and major disruption to quality of life.
For many people living with chronic or severe headache disease, the emotional and mental health burden can be significant. Advocates emphasized that awareness must include not only recognition of physical pain, but also the grief, exhaustion, fear, and isolation that can accompany disabling neurological disease.
“This community is ready to welcome people with open arms,” Verdi said. “If you are living with migraine or another headache disorder, you are not alone. Please do not give up hope. We are fighting for better treatment, better research, better access, better support, and more good days for all of you.”
The Walk for Headache Health is part of the national Flags for Headache campaign, a public awareness and storytelling initiative led by The Headache Alliance and the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. The campaign seeks to make migraine and headache disorders more visible, elevate patient voices, and build momentum for policy change, research investment, and improved access to care.
The Washington, D.C. installation remains open at Raoul Wallenberg Mixed Use Field through June 30, 2026.
A second signature event, Speak Out for Headache Health, will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at 9:00 a.m. at the Raoul Wallenberg Mixed Use Field. The event will feature patients, advocates, clinicians, researchers, community leaders, and policymakers calling for improved headache care, research, education, public awareness, and policy action. The program will also be livestreamed nationally.
More information about the campaign is available at FlagsForHeadache.org.
About The Headache Alliance
The Headache Alliance is a nonprofit organization advancing public understanding, equity, education, and systems change for people living with headache disorders. Through public campaigns, community programming, youth initiatives, and patient education, the organization works to improve recognition, access to care, and quality of life for people affected by headache diseases.
About the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy
The Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy is a national advocacy organization leading federal policy and advocacy efforts to improve the lives of people living with migraine and headache disorders.
About Chronic Migraine Awareness
Chronic Migraine Awareness works to support and empower people living with chronic migraine through education, awareness, advocacy, and community.
About Clusterbusters
Clusterbusters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with cluster headache through education, advocacy, research, and support.