VLCAD Awareness Days
Raising awareness about Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency helps improve early diagnosis, support families, and advance research for fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs). Several important awareness days and months throughout the year highlight rare diseases, metabolic disorders, and the healthcare professionals who care for individuals with these conditions.
Rare Disease Day - February 28, 2027
Rare Disease Day is observed on the last day of February—February 29 in leap years and February 28 in other years. In 2027, Rare Disease Day falls on February 28. This global day raises awareness for people living with rare diseases, including Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency and other fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs), and highlights the need for research, care, and support.
In the United States, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) encourages supporters to “Show Your Stripes” by wearing zebra stripes. The zebra is a symbol of rare diseases, and its distinctive stripes remind us that every person’s story is unique.
Help us Be the Spark for Rare Disease Day 2027! Enter Maddie’s Spark Foundation’s Design the Spark T-Shirt Design Contest with an original design celebrating VLCAD warriors, hope, and community. Submissions are due December 15, 2026, and the three winning designs will be announced and available to purchase through the Maddie’s Spark Bonfire Store the week of January 1, 2027, with international shipping wherever Bonfire delivers.
Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders Awareness Month - July
July is Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders (FAOD) Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about metabolic conditions such as Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. During this month, advocacy organizations, families, and healthcare professionals work together to educate communities about FAOD symptoms, diagnosis, and management. Awareness efforts also highlight the importance of newborn screening, early detection, patient support, and continued research to improve treatments and outcomes for individuals living with fatty acid oxidation disorders.
VLCAD Deficiency Awareness Day - July 17
Join Maddie’s Spark Foundation on July 17, 2027, for the 2nd Annual VLCAD Deficiency Awareness Day! Our Be the Spark campaign brings people together to raise awareness of VLCAD deficiency, support affected families, and fund research toward better disease management, treatments, and quality of life.
This year, we’re bringing our community together in person at the Be the Spark Celebration in Pittsburgh on Saturday, July 17, 2027. Join us for a family-friendly day honoring VLCAD warriors, connecting with families and supporters, and raising funds for VLCAD research. Whether VLCAD is part of your family’s story or you’re learning about it for the first time, you are welcome here.
You don’t have to be in Pittsburgh to Be the Spark. We invite individuals, families, healthcare professionals, researchers, advocacy organizations, and community partners around the world to share their stories, spread awareness, and support research. With your support, we can help more people understand VLCAD and move progress forward for everyone affected.
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week- September 14-20, 2026
World Mitochondrial Disease Week is recognized September 14–20, 2026. This year’s theme, Putting Mito on the Map, is about making mitochondrial diseases more visible and showing the people, families, organizations, and researchers working to create change.
VLCAD deficiency may not be the first condition people think of when they hear “mitochondrial disease,” but the connection is important. VLCAD is a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder that affects how the body turns certain fats into energy inside the mitochondria. During illness, fasting, or increased activity, this can cause serious complications, including low blood sugar, muscle breakdown, and heart problems.
This week, we’re helping put VLCAD on the map and making sure the voices of those living with it are seen and heard.