PTHS Awareness Day, September 18th

September was such a huge month for our Pitt Hopkins family.  On Sept 18, we celebrated our 2nd Annual Pitt Hopkins Awareness Day (AD).  Our small but mighty group came together to celebrate our Pitt Hopkins community and raise awareness.

This second awareness day was even more successful than the first!  It was amazing to see families spreading the word – from Ireland, Canada, UK, New Zealand to USA to Italy (and many more countries), family raised awareness in many different ways.  During the month and days leading up to awareness day, families chose many ways to be involved.

Over 7 families contacted their legislature and local governments to have Sept 18 declared Pitt Hopkins Awareness Day.  Several shared their stories being featured in newspapers or blogs.  Some families thanked those that have had a profound impact on their child.  There were over 1000 t-shirts ordered across the globe.  Many other families printed their own shirts.  Families shared their PTHS AD t-shirts with their schools, therapists, families and friends who wore them proudly.  Some brave siblings spoke to their schools about their brother or sister with PTHS.  Other families wanted to raise money for research and held “Share a Smile” campaigns at their schools, sold wrist bands, planned walks, comedy night or manned a lemonade stand.  With over 125 beautiful faces on our collage, many people posted the wonderful collages and beautiful profile pictures on Facebook to raise awareness with their friends and families.  And many chose to share one or both of our inspiring awareness videos.  Over 100 families chose to participate in a PTHS Thunderclap or the clap hear round the world on social media.  Others chose to share the 100 More Diagnosed campaign through social media.

In whatever ways you chose to celebrate PTHS Awareness Day – thank you for continuing to raise awareness of Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and our inspiring children.