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Rare Disease Day ~ Feb. 28th

Rare Disease Day (February 28th, 2015)  was established in 2008 to unify people with all forms of rare diseases and make an international impact. This year’s theme is “Day by Day, Hand in Hand” (www.rarediseaseday.org).  Notably, 80% of rare diseases are of genetic origin and the Global Genes Project aims to advocate for people with faulty “genes” by encouraging everyone to show their support and wear blue “jeans” on Rare Disease Day. This associated movement inspired blue as the lighting choice (http://globalgenes.org/world-rare-disease-day/).

Starting at sunset on February 28th until sunrise the following morning, Toronto’s CN Tower will illuminate in blue to raise awareness of Rare Disease Day. The lights will run continuously with the exception of the CN Tower’s hourly light show which will run for eight minutes at the top of every hour.  In British Columbia, the Science World “golf ball” (actually a geodesic dome) will be illuminated in blue at sundown the same evening.

These fantastic sites light the way for unity across the provinces in showing that they support rare diseases that affect thousands of families in Canada. Please join us in supporting other organizations in Canada and around the world as we raise awareness about rare diseases.