World Hemophilia Day
Next: April 17, 2027
Light it up red in solidarity.
The story
Where it comes from
World Hemophilia Day has been marked every 17 April since 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia and patient groups around the world. The date is the birthday of the federation's founder, Frank Schnabel, a Montreal businessman born on 17 April 1942 with severe haemophilia A, who set up the federation in 1963. Haemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder: people who have it do not bleed faster than others, but they bleed for longer, because their blood does not have enough of a clotting protein.
How it's celebrated
Every year hundreds of landmarks 'Light It Up Red' on 17 April in solidarity with people who have bleeding disorders, and supporters wear red and share photos online. Patient groups hold events to raise awareness and funds, and to reach people who have never been diagnosed. Wearing something red, or simply learning the signs of a bleeding disorder, is an easy way to take part.
Did you know
- About 21 in every 100,000 males have haemophilia A, the most common type, and about 4 in 100,000 have haemophilia B.
- It was long thought that only men and boys had symptoms, but many women and girls who carry the gene have bleeding problems too.
- Queen Victoria passed haemophilia to several European royal families; in 2009 scientists testing remains of the Romanov family confirmed it was haemophilia B.
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