#LearnYourStripes in just 5 minutes
Our new training video will help you to become more ‘rare aware’ in just a few minutes.
To mark Rare Disease Day, we are sharing a new mini training video with our colleagues, enabling them to confidently recognise and support patients who are or may be living with a rare disease.
We’re calling on healthcare professionals everywhere to watch and share this important resource with their colleagues using the hashtag #LearnYourStripes.
After watching the training video make sure you head over to our LEARN platform to complete Rare Disease 101. This is an eight module course for healthcare professionals that will go into more detail and provide even more useful resources.
#ShowYourStripes for Rare Disease Day
Support for the Rare Community
Living with a rare condition can be very isolating and a lack of awareness within the NHS makes this worse. The Rare Community is big and united – they have taken back the zebra imagery that has been used to marginalised. When all the “zebras” show their stripes you start to truly appreciate the impact of rare disease. Wear stripes in the run up to Rare Disease Day to show you are Rare Aware #ShowYourStripes
Share this campaign with colleagues
We would like people working in the NHS to share this campaign with their organisation, department and colleagues. We have plenty of bright and eye-catching resources for you to use and information about why it’s so important to highlight Rare Disease Day in the NHS.
Rare Disease Day
The 28th February is an internationally recognised day to highlight the 6% of the global population who live with a rare disease, as well as their communities. Healthcare professionals are traditionally taught that “common things are common” and “when you hear hooves, think horses, not zebras.” However this mindset is outdated and can make it even more challenging to live with a rare condition. A lack of healthcare professional awareness is one of the greatest causes of anxiety in this patient population.
We understand the immense pressures facing healthcare professionals today. With limited time and increasing demands, providing the best care for every patient can be challenging. That’s why we’ve created a short training video to get you started on your journey to become Rare Aware.
Download your campaign resources
We ultimately want people living with rare conditions to receive a timely diagnosis and excellent care. This means we need to make the whole of the NHS Rare Aware. Help us on our mission by using our resources to share this campaign. This could be with friends, colleagues, organisations you know or your own healthcare professionals.
However you wish to participate, we’re here to support you. Remember to take photos of your awareness activities and post them on social media with #ShowYourStripes and tag @medicsforrare
Our Communications Toolkit will be available soon, with a range of free assets ready to download and share.
Promote the Day
We have static and animated social media posts for the run up to Rare Disease Day and the day itself
Print Away
We have digital and printable posters for healthcare professionals and the general public
Rare Real Estate
Let the background of your online meeting do the work for you with these ready to use backgrounds. We all know you don’t really live in San Francisco…
Show Off
Tell everyone that you #LearnedYourStripes and ask them to do the same
Fast Facts
This infographic will get you and your colleagues up to speed. You can share a digital version or print it off and put it up
You’ve Got Mail!
Just pop one of these email signatures at the bottom of your emails to spread the word with your contacts…and to look jazzy!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Thank you to the Sponsors of the charity’s Rare Disease Day activities in 2026. Thanks to your generous support we have been able to run events, provide Rare Disease 101 training, raise awareness, support Ambassador advocacy and of course…buy stripy socks!
Sponsorship does not equate to endorsement of any pharmaceutical company or its products. Find out more here.
A special shout out!
Emotive is a global medical communications agency that has been supporting Medics for Rare Disease for 8 years on a pro-bono basis! Thank you to the emotive team for your beautiful and inspired artwork for this campaign.
