CARDS Proudly Partners with NORD for Rare Disease Day USA February 29, 2012

Alone we are Rare. Together we are Strong.
Join NORD in creating awareness for Rare Disease Day. Learn all the ways you can support the 30 million Americans affected by rare diseases.

Central Arizona Rare Disease Support is proud to partner with NORD and the Rare Disease Day Team to bring awareness to Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2012. “This is a global observance,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO of NORD. “Individuals and organizations around the world will all be sharing stories of how rare diseases affect their lives.”

The challenges of living with a rare disease, he said, include:

· Difficulty getting a timely, accurate diagnosis

· Too little research

· Too few treatments

· Reimbursement or other issues affecting access to treatments

· A sense of isolation

· Difficulty finding medical experts

In the U.S., any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans is considered rare. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are nearly 7,000 such diseases affecting nearly 30 million Americans. Studies have shown that it often takes five years or longer to get an accurate diagnosis of a rare disease. In addition, only about 200 of the diseases classified as rare have approved treatments.

Rare Disease Day started in Europe in 2008. It was launched by EURORDIS (Rare Diseases Europe). Last year, it was observed in more than 60 countries, with a national sponsor in each country. NORD is the sponsor in the U.S.

More than 500 patient organizations, government entities, research institutions, and companies developing treatments have signed up as Rare Disease Day Partners on the national website hosted by NORD (www.rarediseaseday.us). CARDS is proud to be one of those partners, and hopes to actively help build awareness and support both in Arizona and elsewhere for those with rare and undiagnosed conditions. For more information on NORD, EURORDIS, and events and information on Rare Disease Day USA, please go to http://rarediseaseday.us/.

Each year, a global planning team selects a theme for Rare Disease Day. The theme for 2012 is “Rare but strong together.”

Rare Disease Day activities in the U.S. will include a “Handprints Across America” campaign to create a gallery of photos on the Rare Disease Day website; educational materials for classroom teachers; and a nationwide blitz of patient photos, stories and videos to increase awareness of specific rare diseases and the challenges of living with a rare disease.

Several special events are planned, including a scientific symposium at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Rare Disease Patient Advocacy Day at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Since many of these diseases are genetic, more than half of the people who have rare diseases are children” Saltonstall said. “The problems encountered by families are enormous. It’s important for these families to know they are not alone.”

NORD was established in 1983. It provides advocacy, education, research and patient services on behalf of rare disease patients, families, and patient organizations