This year, on February 28th, 2014 an annual event will take place to celebrate and honor those born or diagnosed with different rare disorders. Created and initiated by NORD (National Organization of Rare Disorders), this year's Rare Disease Day hopes to draw in even more recognition and funds to help in possibly finding cures for the many conditions that exist and are often unheard of.
A rare disease is any disease that affects a small number of people compared to a general population. Some conditions may be considered rare in certain regions but not others. There are over 6000 different known rare diseases currently that are tracked by NORD. Rare diseases can be conditions that a person is born with (congenital diseases) or conditions that develop later either due to auto-immune diseases or other abnormalities in the affected person's body. Rare diseases are typically serious and progressive, and lack a lot of information from the medical and science community.
Rare Disease Day is an International day of awareness that is observed every February at the end of the month (it lands on the 29th on leap year) used to raise awareness for rare diseases as well as aid in improving access to treatments and medical representation that for some are hard to come by. Its also a mass showing of support for the many people living daily with these diseases to show that they are not alone in the world...often times it feels that way for many of them. Participants get involved by creating videos about their specific conditions, or hold fundraisers, attend walks, marches, or even get their local congress involved by acknowledging the day of awareness. As of 2013, more than 72 countries have been involved with this special day and this number continues to grow.
The theme for 2014 is CARE: Join Together For Better Care. Whether its an event at work, in your local town, or via social networking....February 28th is the day to show your support along with thousands of others for the many men and women of all ages born with various rare diseases.
Seven Years of Raising Awareness for Over 6000 Orphan Diseases.
Visit http://www.rarediseaseday.org to find out how to get involved
Visit http://www.rarediseaseday.org to find out how to get involved