Rare Disease Day 2025 - #HugsForRare
Marking of Rare Disease Day 2025 was organized under the patronage of the City of Zagreb, in co-organization with the City Office for Social Protection, Health, Veterans, and Persons with Disabilities, and under the patronage of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia.
We had, as in previous years, great media support and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows throughout February. As the interest continues this year, we have media engagements scheduled for March as well.
ACTIVITIES:
- Major media campaign titled ‘Embrace for Rare’ involved numerous schools, kindergartens, institutions, public figures, and citizens across Croatia and beyond. This year, the campaign had a regional scope, marking the occasion under the same slogan in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
- Public gathering at Cvjetni Square in Zagreb on February 28, where many citizens, partners, and public figures showed their support for rare disease patients through a symbolic hug photography event.
- Illuminating city landmarks in purple across many cities in Croatia on February 28, demonstrating solidarity with rare disease patients.
- Charity evening at the Kontesa Club in Zagreb, combining entertainment and philanthropy. Over 100 guests participated in the event, contributing symbolic donations to support the Croatian Alliance for Rare Diseases.
- 6. Studentski skup o rijetkim bolestima u suorganizaciji Sekcije za rijetke bolesti i Hrvatskog saveza za rijetke bolesti održan je na Medicinskom fakultetu u Zagrebu
Rare Disease Day in the Media
Media Appearances:
TELEVISION
HRT- Sara Bajlo, President of the Alliance Sara Bajlo and Tonka Vacka from the Cystic Fibrosis Association appeared on the program Good Morning Croatia, live from Cvjetni Square on Rare Disease Day, February 28. A feature for the same show, airing on March 17, was filmed by Ivana Hrastar, social worker of the Alliance, and Stipica Soče, mother of a child with achondroplasia.
HRT4- Sara Bajlo, president, and Katarina Čizmin, board member and mother of a child with Batten disease, were guests on the
show Croatia Today.
Mreža TV- Sara Bajlo, president, appeared on the program Key of Health and recorded a campaign preview for the News.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1005157911467162&ref=sharing
RADIO
Radio Student- Ida Mirković Knaus, secretary of the Association, was a guest on the show Hodalica.
https://www.mixcloud.com/RadioStudent/hodalica-3012025-martina-%C5%A1imuni%C4%87/
HRT 2- Jadranka Brozd from the HUOS association, also a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance, and Ida Mirković Knaus, secretary of the Alliance participated in the show One Plus ONe
Ida Mirković Knaus, secretary of the Association, was a guest on Radio Koprivnica, Radio Slavonski Brod te Alfa Radio,
in the show Ritam of Health.
Jadranka Brozd, a member of the Association's Board of Directors was a guest on Radio Ludbreg in the Health programme.
The great success of the campaign is reflected in our photo gallery, featuring images received via email and social media, as well as the countless photos and posts shared with the hashtag #HugsForRare
See the photo gallery below:
EN 
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