Calling all healthcare professionals… dig out your stripey socks and get ready to ‘show your stripes’ as we approach Rare Disease Day on 28th February. Medics for Rare Disease is asking clinicians, allied healthcare professionals and healthcare students to join forces, to help drive rare disease awareness in the run up to the big day!

Stripey socks and selfies

Getting involved is easy. Just wear some stripey socks and post a selfie on Instagram or LinkedIn with the hashtag #ShowYourStripes and tag @MedicsForRare. All tagged photos will be uploaded to an online gallery that will remain a visual show of support to those people living with rare conditions. Not on social media? No problem, just email your pictures to hello@m4rd.org.

Show off those stripes all week!

Friday 28th is Rare Disease Day but we encourage you to show your stripes on whatever shifts you may be working that week, from Monday 24th February! Team pictures and creative selfies are welcome and there will be awards for the most impressive images. For inspiration, check out last year’s gallery here.

Awareness is Key

Rare diseases are individually rare but collectively common, affecting 3.5 million people in the UK. Patients with rare disease face similar challenges, waiting an average of 5 years to reach diagnosis. Raising healthcare professional awareness about rare disease is key to a timely diagnosis and better outcomes.

Why the stripes?

The zebra was adopted as a symbol of the rare disease community. This is thanks to the now archaic medical adage ‘when you hear hooves, think horse not zebra’, that still impacts clinical decision-making today.

Show your support, #ShowYourStripes!