OUR

STORY.

We Are ILL is a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy organization with a mission to redefine what sick looks like for Black women living with multiple sclerosis (MS). WAI has a fearless community and creates culturally conscious educational materials that facilitate more robust discussions about the experiences of Black women living with MS. WAI is not only improving the overall health outcomes of Black women living with MS, but also eradicating the disease.

When Victoria Reese was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in 2012, she immediately got involved in patient advocacy. She participated in local walks, fundraised for MS research, and she became an ambassador for the National MS Society. As Victoria got more involved with patient advocacy and became a leader in helping those with MS, she realized there was a profound void in MS coverage, awareness, and community for Black women and women of color.

That’s why Victoria decided to embark on a journey to unite and support Black women living with the chronic illness. In 2017, she created the viral social media campaign #WeAreILLmatic, complete with a digital sisterhood support group of more than 1,000 Black women and women of color. Recognizing the necessary space the campaign filled for these women and its value to the MS community, Victoria joined forces with Lauren Hutton-Work in 2020 to turn the campaign into a nonprofit patient advocacy organization, We Are ILL.