At one point, Essex County resident Katia Page's legs were 50 inches wide, and she was in so much discomfort that she "couldn't really do anything," she said. But just as bad as the physical pain was the social stigma that came when people assumed that her appearance was caused by an unhealthy diet, not medical issues.

In an effort to spread awareness about lipedema and reach out to others who may be suffering from the disease, Page is spearheading her 2nd annual fundraiser, the "Curves Meet Courage Conference and Fashion Show," at Rutgers University in Newark on Sunday, July 23.