Rare diseases affect 30 million people in the EU, 5% of the EU population, or the population of Belgium and the Netherlands combined. The estimate only increases when considering the carers families and friends who need to support their loved ones. Rare disease day is an international initiative to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on people’s lives. Over the past 10 years Rare Disease Day has become an internationally recognised awareness-raising campaign, with events taking place in over 90 countries and regions uniting millions of people living with a rare disease worldwide.