Honda will create narcolepsy PSA with community

narcolepsy advertisement public service announcement julie flygare narcoleptic cataplexy wide awake and dreaming author project sleep founder julie flygareEXCITING UPDATE: Honda will create a 30-second Narcolepsy Awareness Public Service Announcement (PSA). I am beyond honored to serve as the spokesperson/talent in PSA and I’m currently working with Honda’s ad agency to develop the content. 

This is an incredible turn-of-events in our inspiring community initiative thanks to each and every person who signed the petition and raised your voice. Big thanks to Narcolepsy Network and Wake Up Narcolepsy for supporting the initiative as well.

Just a few weeks ago, I launched the Change.org petition for Honda Motor Company to remove the inaccurate advertisement stating people with narcolepsy shouldn’t drive and to dedicate resources toward truthful awareness. With over 2,100 petition signatures in less than 36 hours and extensive social media outcry, Honda responded quickly – pulling the advertisement on June 23, 2014 and issuing an apology to the narcolepsy community. Some distribution channels were not caught and the ad aired in select markets across America, but Honda promptly shut down these channels. 

With the inaccurate portrayal off the air, I took a deep breath and began working on educational opportunities with Honda. Yet, I was speechless when I received Honda’s call about the PSA. 

honda narcolepsy psa julie flygare narcolepsy spokesperson author wide awake and dreaming memoir narcoleptic“We want to do more,” explained Robyn Eagles, Honda North America’s Manager of Public Relations. Honda proposed developing a 30-second narcolepsy PSA with their ad agency, RPA to be released digitally. 

I applaud Honda and RPA – some folks might run away or ignore this situation. Instead, we are working together to raise truthful awareness. RPA’s team is now reading my book Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy

Taking lemons, making lemonade! Check my blog for more details soon.

3 Comments

  1. Natalie Kwadrans on July 12, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Julie – this is such great news. We own a Honda and were considering buying the Odyssey next year, but when I saw their ad, we started rethinking our decision. I’m really pleased with the outcome of the survey. Honda did the right thing by pulling the original ad and proved to be an extraordinary corporate citizen by offering to do the PSA spot for Narcolepsy awareness. It makes me proud to own their vehicle and the Odyssey is definitely a top contender for us as we expand our family.

    Thanks again for your hard work on this. You truly are a great advocate for Narcoleptics across the globe.

    • julie on July 12, 2014 at 7:21 pm

      Thank you for this great comment, Natalie. You are so eloquent – you said it better than I could have: “Honda is proving to be an extraordinary corporate citizen”!

  2. tam kozman on July 16, 2014 at 4:35 am

    Such fantastic news! Lemonade out of lemons, indeed. Will this PSA air on television?

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