World Duchenne Awareness Day 2025
Starts September 7, 2025
Event Type: Virtual
Event Category: Advocacy
Audience Type: Everyone
September is Duchenne Awareness Month in Canada, and September 7, 2025, marks the 12th annual World Duchenne Awareness Day (WDAD). This year’s theme, “Family: The Heart of Care,” honours the vital role families play in the lives of those affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
A Family Journey
Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a journey shaped by both resilience and challenge, and at the heart of this journey is family. From parents and siblings to grandparents and extended relatives, family members are fierce advocates, devoted caregivers, and unwavering sources of strength and connection. In many ways, they define what inclusive care and community truly mean.
This year, we invite Canadians to reflect on the importance of family in the Duchenne experience and help us celebrate their enduring love, courage, and hope.
What is World Duchenne Awareness Day?
World Duchenne Awareness Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action around Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common fatal form of muscular dystrophy diagnosed in children.
Through education, advocacy, and personal storytelling, WDAD brings people together across the world to spotlight the realities of living with Duchenne and to drive momentum for research, treatments, and social inclusion.
How You Can Help:
- Light it Red: Landmarks across Canada will illuminate in red on or around September 7.
- Share Your Story: Celebrate the role of family by sharing your Duchenne journey with us.
- Spread Awareness: Use your voice on social media to stand with families affected by Duchenne.
- Support the Cause: Your donation supports research, advocacy, and family care in Canada.
Join Defeat Duchenne Canada and our global partners as we honour families and raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Because united by family, we are stronger, and together, we will defeat Duchenne.
Light It Red
Since 2014, the Canadian Duchenne community has helped raise awareness of World Duchenne Day by organizing local monuments and landmarks to light up in red.
Click the button to the left to access our template and contact your local landmarks. Once booked, email us the location and date ([email protected]), and we’ll add it to the list. Be sure to take a picture and share it with us by posting it on your social media using #WDAD2025 and tagging @defeatduchenne on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Locations Illuminated Across Canada in 2025
British Columbia
- Nanaimo: The Bastion – Sept 8
- Port Coquitlam: City Hall – Sept 6
- Vancouver: Olympic Cauldron and Convention Centre – Sept 10
- Vancouver: Science World – Sept 5
- Vancouver: Sails of Light, Canada Place – Sept 7
Alberta
- Calgary: Calgary Tower – Sept 7
- Red Deer: City Hall – Sept 7
Manitoba
- Winnipeg: Espanalda Riel Bridge – Sept 8
- Winnipeg: Winnipeg Sign – Sept 8
Ontario
- Collingwood: Town Hall Clock Tower – Sept 16
- Hamilton: Signature Sign – Sept 8
- Kitchener: St. Georges of Forest Hill Anglican Church – Sept 6
- London: City Hall – Sept 1
- London: Convention Centre (RBC Place) / London Life / J Taylor Building – Sept 7
- Mississauga: Clock Tower – Sept 6
- Newmarket: Riverwalk Commons & Fred A. Lundy Bridge – Sept 7
- Ottawa: Shaw Centre – Sept 6
- Port Stanley: Festival Theatre – Sept 7
- Toronto: 3D Toronto Sign – Sept 7
- Toronto: CN Tower – Sept 7
- St. Thomas: Jumbo the Elephant – Sept 7
- Newmarket: Riverwalk Commons & Fred A. Lundy Bridge – Sept 7
- Trenton: Quinte West sign and the Veterans Skyway Bridge – Sept 7
- Welland: Welland Bridge 13 – Sept 7
Nova Scotia
- Halifax: City Hall – Sept 7
Newfoundland
- St. John’s: Signal Hill Confederation Building – Sept 7
Share Your Story
Your family’s voice has the power to inspire change.
When you share your Duchenne journey, you help raise national awareness, deepen understanding, and remind others that they are not alone. Click the button to the left to visit our National Family Stories page, where you can submit your story, along with photos or videos.
We’ll feature your story on World Duchenne Awareness Day (September 7) and throughout Duchenne Awareness Month across our social media channels and email communications – amplifying your message from coast to coast.
Together, let’s show the strength, love, and resilience that unite our community.
Spread Awareness
Post on social media using the hashtag #TheHeartofCare and tag @DefeatDuchenne to help amplify your voice and contribute to the growing movement across Canada and beyond.
Need a little inspiration? Here are a few sample captions to help you get started:
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Duchenne muscular dystrophy changes many things, but one thing that never wavers is the love of family. We’re sharing our story this #WDAD2025 to show that hope lives in every hug, every hard day, and every small victory: defeatduchenne.ca/wdad #WDAD2025. #DuchenneAwareness #DefeatDuchenne #TheHeartofCare
- I don’t have a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but I stand with the families who do. Their strength, love, and resilience inspire me every day. This #WDAD2025, let’s raise our voices together and honour the vital role of family in the fight to #DefeatDuchenne: defeatduchenne.ca/wdad. #DuchenneAwareness #TheHeartofCare
- I’ve donated because no family should face Duchenne muscular dystrophy alone. This disease is relentless, but so is the love and advocacy of families. If you’re able, please join me in supporting the fight this #WorldDuchenneAwarenessDay. Your gift fuels research, care, and hope: defeatduchenne.ca/donate. #TheHeartofCare
Plus, don’t forget to use the official World Duchenne Awareness Day materials in your posts. Click the button to the left to access and download the campaign materials:
- Press Pack 2025
- Logos: Download the file that contains all logos and images for World Duchenne Awareness Day.
- Fact Sheets
