Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Moise.
Hi Julie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation began with the most devastating experience a parent could ever imagine, the loss of our son, Ian, to complications from influenza in 2003. Ian was a healthy child, and like so many people, we never fully understood how serious the flu could be or that it could take the life of an otherwise healthy child.
After Ian’s death, we knew we couldn’t change what had happened to our family, but we could try to make sure other familes was better informed. Out of our grief came a commitment to turn Ian’s story into something that could help others. We started Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation with a mission to educate people about the seriousness of influenza, promote prevention, and encourage families to take the flu seriously.
What started as a way to honor Ian’s memory has grown into a 20-year journey of education, advocacy, community outreach, and remembrance. Over the years, we have worked with healthcare professionals, community organizations, families, and supporters who share our belief that awareness can save lives. Our annual Walking to Fight the Flu has become one of the most meaningful parts of that journey, bringing our community together to remember those we’ve lost, support families affected by influenza, and continue spreading our message of prevention.
There have certainly been difficult days along the way, but the support we’ve received from our community has been incredible. Every person who shares Ian’s story, participates in our events, volunteers, sponsors our work, or simply takes the time to learn about influenza becomes part of his legacy.
Today, 20 years later, Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation continues to do what we set out to do from the beginning: turn our family’s loss into a message of hope, education, and prevention. Ian’s life was far too short, but his story continues to touch lives—and that is what keeps me moving forward.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. In fact, there have been many times when continuing felt incredibly difficult. Many times it has been difficult emotionally. Losing Ian was something our family had to learn to live with, and turning that heartbreak into a mission has come with its own challenges. Sharing his story means revisiting the hardest time in our lives, but we have always believed that if his story can help protect even one family, then it is worth telling.
Another challenge has been getting people to understand that influenza is much more serious than many realize. The phrase “it’s just the flu” is something we have heard far too often. We used that exact phrase several times the day before we lost Ian. Changing that mindset takes constant education, persistence, and having those conversations year after year.
Like many nonprofit organizations, we have also faced the challenges of maintaining community involvement, and keeping our message in front of people, especially when influenza isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. There have been times when we’ve wondered how we would keep going.
What has carried us through is the incredible support of our family, friends, volunteers, healthcare professionals, sponsors, and community. Over the past 20 years, so many people have believed in Ian’s story and in what we are trying to accomplish. Their support has reminded us that we are not doing this alone.
The road hasn’t always been easy, but every family we reach, every person who learns something new about influenza, and every life we may help protect makes the struggles worthwhile. We have learned to take the difficult days one at a time, stay focused on our mission, and remember why we started in the first place, Ian.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation, our work centers around one simple but important message: influenza is serious, and awareness can save lives. Our focus is on educating families and communities about the potential dangers of influenza, the importance of prevention, and the steps people can take to protect themselves and those around them.
A large part of our work is community education and outreach. We share information, participate in community events, work with healthcare professionals and organizations, and use our platform to encourage people to take influenza seriously and make informed decisions about prevention. Our annual Walking to Fight the Flu has become a cornerstone of our work and an opportunity to bring people together to educate, remember, and take action.
I think what sets Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation apart is that our mission comes from a very personal place. We aren’t simply talking about the seriousness of influenza, we have lived (and continue to live) with the consequences. Ian was a healthy child whose life was lost to complications from the flu. His story gives a very real face to something that many people still consider “just the flu.”
What I am most proud of is that what began with the unimaginable loss of our son has grown into 20 years of advocacy, education, and community support. I am proud of the relationships we have built and the people who continue to stand behind our mission. Most of all, I am proud that Ian’s name and his story continue to make a difference.
We cannot change what happened to Ian, but we can change what happens because of Ian. If his story causes a parent to learn more about influenza, encourages someone to take prevention seriously, or helps another family avoid the loss we experienced, then his legacy continues to have a purpose. That is what we are most proud of, and that is what continues to set our foundation apart.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My biggest advice to anyone starting something they are passionate about is to believe in your mission and don’t be afraid to start small. You don’t have to have everything figured out in the beginning. We certainly didn’t. We still don’t
I would also tell people to surround themselves with good people. You cannot do it alone. Volunteers, community partners, sponsors, healthcare professionals, family, and friends have all played an important role in helping Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation grow. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, accept new ideas, and build relationships with people who believe in what you’re trying to accomplish.
Something else I wish I had understood in the beginning is that change doesn’t happen overnight. When your cause is important to you, it’s easy to become frustrated when you don’t see immediate results. But sometimes the impact is happening in ways you may never know about. A conversation you had, a story you shared, or a piece of information someone heard may influence a decision years later.
Most importantly, stay true to your “why.” There will be setbacks, disappointments, and days when you question whether you can keep going. When those moments come, go back to the reason you started. For us, that reason has always been Ian. His life, his story, and the hope that we can prevent another family from experiencing what ours did continue to give me the strength to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.IansRainbow.com
- Instagram: ians.rainbow.flu.foundation
- Facebook: Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation
