Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare genetic disorders that impact the way the mitochondria in a person’s cells produce energy.
While there is currently no cure for this range of conditions, the hope is that raising awareness and improving support will help provide care for those who need it and also promote research that might lead to a cure!
World Mitochondrial Disease Week aims to include the public, policy makers and health care professionals about the need for research and support.
How to Celebrate World Mitochondrial Disease Week
Those who want more inspiration about how to take action in honor of World Mitochondrial Disease Week might consider some of these ideas for celebrating:
Get Involved
One of the best ways to observe this important week of awareness is by joining in on local activities that promote education and fund raising on behalf of mitochondrial disease.
This is a great time to get connected by learning more and advocating on behalf of individuals and families with one of these conditions.
Events like community walks, seminars, and fund raisers are all part of the awareness campaign for mitochondrial disease.
Those who are interested might choose to host a fundraising event or make a donation to one of the charities that supports this group of conditions.
Light Up Green for Mito
One of the important ways that companies and communities can get involved with World Mitochondrial Disease Week is to invite a local monument or business building to light up!
Green is the color that represents mitochondrial disease awareness, so fire up those green lightbulbs and show some support.
Individuals and families can also get involved by changing their porch light to green in honor of the event.
Share Your Mito Story
Individuals, families and friends of those who have mitochondrial diseases might be interested in telling their story and promoting awareness for this week through their social media accounts.
Those impacted by various diseases, including Alpers’ disease, Barth syndrome, MERRF syndrome, and many others, can share their experiences to help increase education and understanding for others throughout the world.
Nominate for a Mito Foundation Award
Know someone who goes above and beyond for the members of the mito community?
The folks who run the Mito Foundation in Australia offer this award that is given annually as part of the Mito Community Summit.
History of World Mitochondrial Disease Week
This event was started through the collaborative efforts of various patient organizations and advocacy groups from all over the world.
The collective ambition of the mitochondrial community is to provide increased visibility as well as understanding of this group of diseases.
Some of the organizations involved in World Mitochondrial Disease Week include International Mito Patients, along with the Mito Foundation in Australia, My Mito Mission in the UK and MitoAction in the United States.
This important event dates back more than a decade, to at least 2011.
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