26 Days of Kawasaki Disease Awareness: Day 18

To commemorate the 4th annual National Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day on January 26, 2014, I will be posting 26 ideas on how you can spread KD awareness in your own community and beyond - one idea per day until the 26th.  

Here are the past days:

Day 1: Help make 'National Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day' officially recognized at the local, state, and national levels.
Day 2: Create an email signature to promote Kawasaki Disease awareness.
Day 3: Organize an art contest.
Day 4: Pass out KD awareness posters.

Day 5: Write about your Kawasaki Disease experience.

Day 6: Contact news outlets about running a KD story.
Day 7: Decorate your home and car windows with KD awareness.
Day 8: Participate in a KD Clinical Study
Day 9: Share Kawasaki Disease themed infographics and memes.
Day 10: Organize a 5K run for Kawasaki Disease.
Day 11: Get your community involved in KD awareness.
Day 12: Hand out heart lollipops with KD information.
Day 13: Start or join a Kawasaki Disease support group.
Day 14: Buy, make, and wear KD awareness.
Day 15: Organize a charity golf or mini-golf tournament for KD.
Day 16: Organize a local blood drive for KD and donate blood.
Day 17: Get your child's school involved.

Now let's get to today's idea:

Day 18: Make a KD inspired float for a local parade.

Thanksgiving, St. Patrick's Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day -- I just dare you to name a holiday that doesn't have a parade for it somewhere.  Parades are a great way to bring the community together in celebration and remembrance.  Parades are also a great way to get your message heard by a huge group of people.

First, figure out what parade you would like to enter.  Then get some help - floats can take a lot of work, depending on your design.  Put the word out in your community that you are looking for other families that have been affected by Kawasaki Disease to collaborate on this idea.  Try local newspapers, magazines, radio, or your local public television station.  

Now plan your float! There are, of course, many resources out there to assist you.  Here are just a few:

Float Building Guide - University of Maryland
How to Build a Float - Valley Decorating
Float Workshop Handout - Salinas Parade
Parade Float Stuff

Now get a group of people to ride on your float in the parade.  You can give them KD lollipops to throw to the crowd!

Do other countries go parade crazy like America? Have you ever seen a float for KD? Could you see yourself participating in a float? What would your KD float look like? Tell us your ideas.  And come back tomorrow for day 19 of 26 days of Kawasaki Disease.