Messages are arriving daily by way of the Rare Disease Day US website about innovative ways people are using Rare Disease Day as an opportunity to educate and raise awareness.  For instance:
A member of the Stiff Person Syndrome Association will be sitting in front of her local Wal-Mart in Oklahoma holding a poster about Rare Disease Day

• A member of the Stiff Person Syndrome Association will be sitting in front of her local Wal-Mart in Oklahoma holding a poster about Rare Disease Day.
  
• NORD and Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue will host an informational broadcast for all Rare Disease Day Partners. (Time and date to be announced soon.)
  
• Alexion, BioMarin, Genzyme, ViroPharma and other companies are planning educational events for their employees and guests.
  
• NORD will host an open house at its Danbury, Connecticut offices.
  
• Pre-medical students at the University of Connecticut are planning a noontime awareness event on their campus.
  
• A "Radio Media Tour" is planned that will provide live radio interviews with stations across the country.
  

Other exciting announcements are coming soon, including a contest through which four lucky patient organizations will win Flip camcorders to share their stories with others. 

Please Help Us Promote Awareness
To date, more than 300 patient organizations, government entities, academic institutions, professional societies, and companies have signed on as Rare Disease Day Partners.  If you have not yet done so, please make your support for Rare Disease Day official. Partners are encouraged to display the logo and use the press kit to promote awareness of the day and its messages. 

Thanks to All Who Have Obtained Proclamations
NORD has created a map to show which states have issued proclamations.  Click on your state to see whether NORD has been notified of events taking place there.  Check back often, as new events now are coming in each day.  Tell us about your event. 

To date, NORD has been notified that proclamations have been obtained for the following states:  Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.  We want to credit all organizations that help with this, so please send your organization’s name to rarediseaseday@rarediseases.org if you have obtained a proclamation, to make sure we properly credit you.  We appreciate your help! 

Watch for Patient Stories Soon
Wonderful and inspiring patient stories are being submitted to NORD now.  We’ll begin to publish them soon.  Reading these stories of courage in the face of adversity will make you want to double your efforts on behalf of patients and families!