Students Prepare for World Rare Disease Day with Blue Jeans Denim Ribbons.

Check out this article on students getting a jump on World Rare Disease Day — see news article here.

‘Denim Jean’ Ribbon Unveiled To Promote Rare Disease Awareness

Campaign Brings Together Support from over 90 Corporations, Non-Profit Foundations, Research Institutions, Hospitals and Advocacy Groups; New Blue Jeans Denim Ribbon Unveiled To Promote Rare Disease Awareness

DANA POINT, CA – February 1, 2010 – Hope – It’s In Our Genes.™ The Children’s Rare Disease Network today announced the Global Genes Project, an initiative designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of rare diseases that afflict millions of children worldwide. Rare disease advocates organizing the campaign selected a blue jeans denim ribbon as the international symbol of hope for children suffering from life threatening and chronically debilitating rare diseases.

More than 90 corporations, non-profit foundations, research institutions and children’s hospitals have signed on to support the Global Genes Project including: 23andme, Amicus Therapeutics, Better Health, BioMarin, CheckOrphan, CollabRx, Counsyl, Coriell Institute, DonateGames.org, FasterCures, FreeForm, Genetic Alliance, Geni.com, Genzyme, Hide and Seek Foundation, Jackson Laboratory, Kakkis EveryLife Foundation, Knome, Lili Claire Foundation, Life Technologies, Mayo Clinic and Shire.

Numerous rare disease foundations from countries including Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, New Zealand, Philippines, the United Kingdom and United States are helping support the global movement by organizing activities throughout February and leading up to World Rare Disease Day 2010.

“The Global Genes Project is providing a new platform to help unite people under a common goal and to make a difference for all children suffering from rare disease,” said Nicole Boice, Founder, Global Genes Project. “We want to create a world where children suffering from chronic disease have equal access to life saving drug treatments.”

Growing Public Health Concern; Inequity Exists

Rare disease is an important and growing global public health concern that can no longer be ignored. While each disease may be rare when considered by itself, rare disease collectively impacts the lives of millions. According to estimates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 6,800 rare diseases exist, many of which are genetic in origin, translating to an affected population of 25-30 million Americans or approximately 1 in 10 people. In Europe, the number affected is almost identical. Approximately 75% of those affected by rare diseases are children, making the rare disease category one of the most deadly and debilitating for children worldwide.

Despite the success of the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, pharmacologic treatments exist for only a small fraction of rare diseases, or approximately 200 of the 6,800 rare diseases. After 25 years of orphan drug regulations and legislation, the development path to approve new drugs has not stimulated orphan drug development for small populations of patients facing rare disease.
Current studies also suggest that it takes more than a dozen years and hundreds of millions of dollars to take a potential drug from discovery to the marketplace. As a result, severe inequity exists in access to care and treatment for millions of rare disease patients.

Denim Blue Jeans Ribbon Campaign

Leading up to the annual World Rare Disease Day on February 28, 2010, the Global Genes Project will help facilitate a series of denim focused awareness events, charitable activities and engage corporate sponsors, government officials, celebrities and the media to help spread its lifesaving message of hope.

“Blue is the color of strength and our blue jeans denim ribbon is an ideal symbol that expresses solidarity,” added Boice. “Genes and jeans are a natural fit – both are universal, come in pairs and are unique to the individual. It’s a simple concept that anyone can embrace and a powerful way to raise awareness for rare disease.”

The Global Genes Project is asking rare disease advocates and supporters across the world to wear denim jeans and blue jeans denim ribbons the week of February 22 and leading up to World Rare Disease Day 2010. The organization is also asking supporters to display the blue jeans denim ribbon symbol on their websites and to actively invite co-workers, friends and family and their community to join in spreading this global message.

Blue jeans denim ribbons can be obtained by visiting www.globalgenesproject.org. Denim jeans and ribbon wearing supporters can submit digital photos on Facebook. To join the growing list of supporters, visit http://www.globalgenesproject.org/sponsors.php.

About The Global Genes Project

The Global Genes Project is a campaign of the Children’s Rare Disease Network and a grassroots effort with the goal to increase awareness about the prevalence of rare diseases worldwide. The Children’s Rare Disease Network is a registered 501c3 non profit organization. For more information, visit www.crdnetwork.org or www.globalgenesproject.org.

Announcing Global Genes Project!!! Wear Jeans, help sick kids!

Finally the rare disease community has their ‘pink ribbon’!

With a community of 100 million strong in the US and equal those numbers in the EU this community is deserving of the same energy, efforts, attention and support as some of the big individual diseases like AIDS and Breast Cancer.

We live in a time when we have seen huge success from organizations engaging and building a constituencies for their disease and from outside the community – and for the first time, the rare disease community is coming together to create a broad unifying campaign that will educate, inform and transform this community as we know it.  This will be the year for the rare disease community – our coming out, of sorts.  There is a lot planned that will benefit this community in Q1 – Crowley movie, ‘Extraordinary Measures’, 3-Part PBS Series on technology innovations and the impact on rare disease, and the 2nd Annual World Rare Disease Day -  however, Global Genes Project will become a catalyst for this community and provide a platform for ongoing outreach and engagement, garnering the much needed support that these kids deserve.

Check out www.globalgenesproject.org and join the effort on Facebook as well. There will be numerous opportunities and ideas on how individuals, rare disease organizations and corporations can get involved. It can be as easy as wearing denim genes and incorporating the adorable/identifiable jeans ribbon on your site/blog, etc.

Stay tuned for more updates!!!