Hundreds of Landmarks Worldwide to ‘Shine a Light on NF’
‘I Know a Fighter’ Movement Brings Attention to Brave Heroes Battling Disease
NEW YORK – February 1, 2018 – Neurofibromatosis, also known as NF, is a genetic disorder few have heard of, but the Children’s Tumor Foundation is working to change that with the expansion of its #EndNF campaign. NF affects 1 in 3,000 people, causing tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, and it affects all ethnicities, races and genders equally. It is a life-changing disease that over 2.5 million people worldwide live with every day, but there is no cure as yet.
This May, in recognition of NF Awareness Month, hundreds of buildings, bridges, monuments, and landmarks across the globe will show their support in the fight against NF by lighting up in blue and green, the official colors of the campaign. Launched by the Children’s Tumor Foundation in 2014 to increase public knowledge of this critical disease, last year the Shine a Light on NF campaign grew to 159 landmarks around the world, lighting up in recognition of the NF cause. In addition to well-known locations in the United States, including Niagara Falls, light-ups took place in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Austria. This year’s effort expands to Central America, South America, and Asia.
While architectural icons light up to bring attention to NF, the focus is on those living with the disease, which in addition to tumors can lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. The Foundation’s I Know a Fighter initiative gives voice to those living with neurofibromatosis. The NF story is one full of hurdles – diagnosis, symptoms, doctor appointments, MRI scans, pain, surgeries and/or chemo. But it is also a story of perseverance, strength and inspiration. I Know a Fighter is a reflection of the bravery that NF patients exhibit in their daily lives.
“Increased recognition of NF is critical to driving the life-saving research that will benefit NF patients and their families,” said Simon Vukelj, Vice President, Marketing & Communications of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. “Whether one promotes the cause with the #EndNF hashtag, attends a Shine a Light on NF ceremony, or spreads the word by wearing an I Know a Fighter t-shirt, each action announces that NF deserves our attention, and that NF patients deserve a cure.”
The #EndNF initiative is a year-round campaign that is highlighted in May, which is NF Awareness Month. In addition to online and offline events designed to educate about NF, the Children’s Tumor Foundation boosts the cause with engaging efforts like Shine a Light on NF, I Know a Fighter, and other events and initiatives that take place across the country and around the world to increase awareness, raise money for research, and connect the NF community.
Partners can join the growing Shine a Light on NF campaign by visiting ctf.org/shinealight or contacting the Children’s Tumor Foundation at media@ctf.org.
I Know a Fighter stories can be submitted by contacting the Foundation at media@ctf.org, and exclusive I Know a Fighter merchandise can be purchased at www.ctf.org/store.
For more information on the Children’s Tumor Foundation, as well as all NF Awareness Month campaign initiatives, please visit www.ctf.org/nfawareness.
About Children’s Tumor Foundation
The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a term for three distinct disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. NF causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. NF affects 1 in every 3,000 births across all populations equally. There is no cure yet – but the Children’s Tumor Foundation mission of driving research, expanding knowledge, and advancing care for the NF community fosters our vision of one day ending NF. For more information, please visit www.ctf.org.
