Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches (OUCH)

Annual Report for 2007

Dear OUCH Members;

2007 was one of the most productive years on record for OUCH.   360 members joined OUCH in the last year, bringing our membership to over 3100 people, representing 60 countries world-wide. 

The Board of Directors has implemented a training program for new members entering board service.  This training along with evaluation tools and a continuing education program were developed by our volunteer consultant, a retired nonprofit consultant, to help keep OUCH on a steady track.  He has also helped with designing Key Duties and Position Descriptions for all the committees and service teams.

The Advocacy Committee developed a Headache Diary for sufferers to track their attacks, which is very useful in making a solid diagnosis and in making adjustments in their treatment.  The Advocacy Committee also developed a Medical Alert Form for cluster headache sufferers to complete, with their doctors, that would give Emergency and other medical personnel important information regarding their medical treatments.  The goal being reduced time in getting proper acute care at a time when it may be difficult for someone in the throes of an attack to calmly discuss his or her treatment needs.

OUCH created a special team to handle information and support of people using 100% Oxygen as an abortive for their cluster headaches.  The O2 Support Team fielded 15 requests from people around the world on the use of medical oxygen to treat CH and forwarded numerous other requests for information to the Family Service Team.

The Family Services Team (FST) was very busy, providing information and support to more than 75 people through their e-mail and contact form.  The FST also assisted many more people on the message boards at www.clusterheadaches.com. 

The 8th Annual Members Meeting and Convention in Richmond, Virginia saw members from around the country and across the globe gathering to conduct OUCH business, learn more about treating and coping with cluster headaches and enjoying the camaraderie of their fellow sufferers and supporters.

The OUCH website received HON Code accreditation through the Health on the Net Foundation, an organization dedicated to ensuring high standards for websites presenting medical information.  A study conducted by medical researchers on the quality of websites providing information on cluster headache named OUCH as the number one site on the internet for people to obtain information and support.

The future holds promise for more advances in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of cluster headache.  OUCH will partner with other headache organizations to reach the medical, insurance and pharmaceutical communities and inform them of our needs.  We plan to attend neurological and medical seminars and conventions where we can interact directly with those who have the most influence on research.  We promise to continue to provide our members and sufferers everywhere with the most up to date information on the treatment of cluster headache.

Sincerely,

Donna Delacerda

OUCH President

The Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches is a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.  It is incorporated in the state of Texas and is eligible to accept tax exempt donations.  Donations from individuals may qualify for federal and state tax exemption.  

OUCH operates solely on donations, grants and sales from the OUCH Store.  Please help us by making a tax deductible donation either on our web page at http://www.ouch-us.org/donate.htm or via postal mail at  

The Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches can be found on the internet at: http://www.ouch-us.org or can be contacted via postal mail at