October 20 is the first-ever International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day.
As part of this important event, the Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases International Group is thrilled to share the launch of a new website, logo, and slogan.
The website will connect researchers, physicians, and patients from around the world to share their support contacts and treatment information and, hopefully, elevate care for everyone to a whole new level. Although in some countries, people may take for granted the many informational and social resources, there are many countries where such opportunities and access to care are more limited. We hope to help change that with this new site.
There are already 23 groups from 21 countries participating and others are free to join. Each can launch their own page in their own language, offering patients and physicians information on mast cell diseases, support group contacts, and treatment centers in the area.
The site will also help these organisations to promote our exciting new day on October 20. Folks from each country will be posting the activities they participate in to raise awareness about mast cell diseases. If you’d like a photo of your activity included on this worldwide site, please email it to your local organisation or support group who will in-turn submit it to be published. (PLEASE NOTE: please be sure to get signed photo permissions from everyone in the picture.)
We’re also launching a new slogan and logo.
The slogan, “Connecting to Change the Future – Our Future,” was born out of our aim to connect people around the world. It speaks to the many scientific connections that researchers make during study, the personal connections patients make to support each other, and the professional connections that physicians make to offer the best care possible.
Our new logo was intentionally crafted to include both “mastocytosis” and “mast cell diseases” in the same size font, for equal representation. The mast cell icon depicted has “receptors” and seems to be spilling its contents during degranulation. The color purple was chosen to represent the color of the stain that researchers use in their slides. The ribbon has dots to represent the spots/hives/rashes that many mast cell patients deal with.
Let’s celebrate the opportunity to work together for a healthier future for all of us!
