Neighbor News
Lexington Woman Transforms Chronic Pain Into Global Advocacy for Migraine Awareness
Through the Shades for Migraine campaign, Jessica Johnson-Jones helps put Kentucky on the map in a worldwide effort to make migraine visible
This June, Kentucky joins a global movement to recognize Migraine and Headache Awareness Month through the Shades for Migraine campaign—a global initiative led by the nonprofit Association of Migraine Disorders. The campaign invites people worldwide to "Show You Care, Wear a Pair"—putting on sunglasses to raise awareness about migraine, a misunderstood and often invisible neurological disease.
In Kentucky, awareness is gaining momentum thanks to advocates like Jessica Johnson-Jones, a Lexington-based author and business owner who has lived with chronic migraine since her early teens.
“I’ve been navigating migraine for most of my life,” said Johnson-Jones. “Even as a kid, I was in and out of emergency rooms. Now I live with complex, chronic migraine. Migraine isn’t just something I manage physically—it’s something I’ve built my life and community around.”
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Johnson-Jones experiences a wide range of migraine symptoms: throbbing pain, nausea, dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, visual disturbances, and brain fog. But for her, the most challenging part is how unpredictable migraine can be.
“Plans can fall apart in an instant,” she said. “The invisible nature of it can be isolating, even when you look “fine” to everyone else.”
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Migraine affects 40 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability for women under 50. Yet the condition is often dismissed or stigmatized. That’s why Jessica turned to advocacy—and found a home with Shades for Migraine.
“Shades for Migraine blends serious advocacy with lighthearted visibility,” she said. “I saw the power of a purple pair of sunglasses to start conversations, build community, and let others with migraine know they’re not alone. It gave me a way to turn pain into purpose.”
As a Shades for Migraine Community Leader, Johnson-Jones led the charge to have Kentucky officials formally recognize June as Migraine and Headache Awareness Month through a proclamation.
“To me, Shades for Migraine means connection,” she says. “It’s visibility. It’s validation. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there’s community and light. It is a gentle reminder that I am not alone.”
Join the movement and help make migraine visible
On June 21, Shades for Migraine invites people across Kentucky—and around the world—to take part in a simple act of solidarity:
- SNAP a photo wearing sunglasses
- SHARE it on social media tagging @ShadesForMigraine
- SHOW that migraine matters with #ShadesForMigraine
“Shades for Migraine turns a small, everyday action like a selfie into a global statement,” said Sara Berkowitz, campaign program manager. “It unites patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, businesses, friends, and advocates around a shared cause.”
About Shades for Migraine
Shades for Migraine is a global awareness campaign that encourages people to wear sunglasses on June 21 in solidarity with those living with migraine. Launched in 2017 by the nonprofit Association of Migraine Disorders, Shades For Migraine works to spread awareness through a fun, engaging, and inclusive approach that sparks conversation and builds empathy.