Over 60 Canadian Landmarks To Be Illuminated For PANS PANDAS Awareness

CALGARY, Alberta - Oct. 8, 2023 - PRLog -- Through a national display of solidarity, on October 9, 2023, 64 Canadian landmarks from coast to coast will illuminate vibrant red in honour of World PANS PANDAS Awareness Day.

Inflamed Brain Alliance's (IBA) inaugural "Light-Up for PANS PANDAS" campaign will shine a public light on PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) to highlight the needs of everyone impacted by this debilitating inflammatory brain disease.

Affecting 1 in 200 Canadian children each year, PANS PANDAS causes sudden and profound behaviour changes in children, affecting both their mental and physical health. Though they affect thousands of children and young adults, these disorders largely hide in the shadows of misunderstanding and insufficient resources.

"By lighting up landmarks in red, we're highlighting the inflammatory nature of PANS PANDAS and the pressing need to receive more clinical resources and support. It punctuates our new charity's commitment to launch and build PANS PANDAS programs for awareness, education, child & family support, and to accelerate clinical research," expressed Marnie Deschenes, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Inflamed Brain Alliance. "Our hope is that the landmark lighting might become an international event to elevate global awareness of this critical health issue."

The general public, media outlets, and supporters are encouraged to capture and share the poignant moments using the hashtag #Red4PANS. Through these shared experiences, we hope to create a unified national conversation about the importance of recognizing and treating PANS PANDAS.

For more information visit https://inflamedbrain.org/landmark-lighting/

About the Inflamed Brain Alliance:

Established in 2022, Inflamed Brain Alliance is the only Canadian PANS PANDAS charity supporting children and families living with these neuropsychiatric conditions. As a volunteer-driven organization, it is committed to working collaboratively to restore brain health for those affected, and championing PANS PANDAS in broader public and medical forums.