The second edition of the Rare Disease Day was a resounding success with a myriad of awareness-raising activities in 29 countries, throughout 5 continents. Media coverage in many countries was extensive, from television to radio to print media. Rare Diseases were raised up into the public view. Public officials, media figures and sports stars joined in.
A few fabulous moments from Rare Disease Day 2009 across the globe:
VIDEOS: Short videos featured well-known celebrities, families living with a rare disease, television reports, or promotional adverts for Rare Disease Day.
| SPAIN | ITALY | ITALY | ITALY | EUROPE | |
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FERNANDO TORRES, well-known Spanish football player, now with the Liverpool Football Club. |
Television station "La7" reports on Rare Disease Day 2009. |
Touching video portrait of Renza Barbon, President of UNIAMO, and her 22-year old daughter, Laura, who lives with a rare metabolic disease, PKU. By Italian TV station Living with a rare disease: television station TG5. In Italian |
A child asks "Mom, what's a rare disease?" |
German television report about the rare disease, Williams Syndrome, and the rare disease work done at the European level for Rare Disease Day 2009. Features an interview with Yann Le Cam, EURORDIS CEO. In German. |
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| SWITZERLAND | SWITZERLAND | TAIWAN | ROMANIA | GREECE | |
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| Rare Disease Day 2009 events in Geneva, and the life of Charlotte, a little girl living with Sanfilippo disease. In French. | Television interview of Loredana D'Amato, Coordinator of Orphanet Switzerland, on Rare Disease Day 2009. In French. | Interview of Professor Peter Chang, Health Advisor of the Taiwan Health Ministry on EU Affairs. At the European commission on Rare Disease Day 2009. In English. | The kick-off of Rare Disease Day 2009 in Romania at the House of Culture. Musical and dance performances by young people and other family entertainment. In Romanian. | Television advert promoting Rare Disease Day 2009. In Greek. | |
Some countries produced VIDEO MESSAGES from HEADS OF STATE |
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| BELGIUM | CROATIA | DENMARK | |||
| Video speech by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid on the occassion of Rare Disease Day 2009. In Flemish | Video speech by The President of The Republic of Croatia, Mr. Stjepan Mesić on rare diseases in Croatia. In Croatian. | Rare Disease Day 2009 video address from Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. In English. | |||