Rare Disease Day – why it’s important to show your stripes
Nucleus Global s EU Strategy Director, Amanda Henkel, writes about the importance of continuing to raise awareness of rare diseases
Rare Disease Day (https://www.rarediseaseday.org/) on 28 February is intended to raise awareness among policymakers and the public about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients and their families. If you’re active on social media, you can’t have failed to notice the splashes of pink, blue and green accompanying posts of the annual event. In the US, the zebra is the official symbol of rare diseases (due to the uniqueness of the black and white stripes) and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) are using the hashtag ‘Show Your Stripes’ to promote Rare Disease Day – but what does it mean, and why should we get involved?