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O World Rare Disease Day This year it is celebrated on February 28th in more than 100 countries. This commemoration aims to alert the population to this type of diseases and to the difficulties that patients face in their daily lives.

EURORDIS, as 62 National Alliances of their partner patient organisations and hundreds of other patient organisations from more than 100 countries have collaborated to ensure that the voice of rare disease patients continues to be heard and considered by the global community, even during the coronavirus pandemic.

The central message of this year’s campaign:It is rare to be many. It's rare to be strong. It's rare to be proud of it.”, highlights the rewording of the word ‘rare’, as it reflects more than 6000 rare diseases and the different aspects of lives and of what people with rare diseases go through. This message reminds us that we are more than our disease and that our potential is not limited by what we can achieve on our own.

Rare diseases are a global problem. estimated 300 million people all over the world. On this Day, we come together to express our support, bond, share and build a sense of belonging so that no one with a rare disease is left behind.

For patient stories to be transmitted across borders, EURORDIS and its 62 partner National Alliances have created a animated video from Rare Disease Day 2021, available in 37 languages. This video illustrates the triumphs and obstacles rare disease patients around the world face in their daily lives, highlighting the stories of six rare disease patients living in Australia, Brazil, the United States, Malaysia, Norway and Kenya. They're young and old. Explorers, comic book lovers and gourmets. It's more than your illness. Although they may have their differences, there is something that unites them all – their “rareness”. And this is what makes us all heroes! Tell your storyand show your support by sharing the video with the hashtag #RareDiseaseDay.

To help create a focal point around the world, the Rare Disease Day They are encouraging volunteers to turn on the lights of monuments around the world, which will be used to highlight our connection across borders.