Join the Movement for Change

Rare Disease Day, observed internationally on 28 February, is a global call to action that unites communities worldwide to advance equity in healthcare, research, and treatment access for people living with rare diseases.

In Canada, 1 in 12 people – approximately 3 million Canadians – are affected by a rare disease, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Yet despite scientific progress, only about 60% of rare disease treatments ever reach Canada, and many arrive years after they do in other countries. These delays leave families without timely access to potentially life-changing care.

This Rare Disease Day, Defeat Duchenne Canada is joining the international movement to advocate for equitable, timely, and affordable access to treatments and care by empowering our Canadian Duchenne community with the resources and knowledge to ensure their voice is heard.

EMPOWER Advocacy Webinar

Time to Take Action: Using Your Advocacy Toolkit

To mark Rare Disease Day, we invite you to participate in the third and final session of our EMPOWER Advocacy webinar series:

📅 Saturday, 28 February, 2026
📍 Virtual
🕛 12:00-1:00 p.m. EST

This practical, action-focused session will equip you to:

• Activate your advocacy skills with confidence
• Use your advocacy toolkit effectively
• Prepare for and conduct meaningful meetings with decision-makers
• Navigate challenges and sustain advocacy momentum

Rare Disease Day reminds us that progress happens when awareness leads to action. By joining this webinar, you are adding your voice to a global movement for fairness, equity, and access to treatments and care, and helping drive change for Canadians living with Duchenne.

Register now to take part in this important conversation.