PANS PANDAS Awareness Day 2025
Thursday 9th October marks PANS PANDAS Awareness Day, a global event supporting everyone affected by PANS or PANDAS.
We are excited to tell you all of the fantastic things that have been happening behind the scenes, in preparation for this year’s PANS PANDAS Awareness Day. And, there are so many ways in which you can get involved too.
What we are doing
Two articles are being published in October by significant health and education publications. Both have large readerships, so we are confident that we will reach new audiences with information about the conditions and the support our community needs and deserves.
For the big day, we will be showcasing PANS PANDAS UK at two significant conferences: The TES SEND show, which celebrates inclusive educational practice, and the Royal College of GPs annual conference, which brings together primary care experts from across the country.
These events are the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and improve education about PANS, PANDAS, and how these conditions are affecting people across the UK.
“International Awareness Day is a celebration of courage, community, and hope. Every step we take – from attending national conferences to lighting up local landmarks, hosting a coffee morning, or sharing a social media post – brings us closer to raising vital awareness of the understanding and support that every family affected by PANS and PANDAS deserves.”
– Vicky Burford, Our CEO.
How you can help
There are many ways you can mark Awareness Day and support us in informing more people about PANS and PANDAS.
Light up for PANS!
More and more world landmarks are confirmed as taking part in this year’s #LightUp4PANS – and loads of them are in the UK and Ireland, thanks to our community!
Please reach out to your local landmark today and ask if they can be lit up in green on Thurs 9th Oct. Let us know so we can share the news, and don’t forget the selfie!
“Green shines a light on the need for compassionate, multidisciplinary care that recognises the brain–body immune connection in PANS and PANDAS and the urgent call for awareness, inclusion, and support for families on this complex journey.”
So far, these landmarks have agreed to be lit up in green, thanks to your amazing awareness-raising efforts:
Camera Obscura, Edinburgh.
Cavan County Council Courthouse, Ireland.
Christchurch Spire, Greyfriars Green walkway and the Whittle Arches, Coventry.
Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland.
The Mansion House, Dublin.
Hoad Monument aka Sir John Barrow Monument, Ulverston.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council civic buildings, Northern Ireland.
Normanton Church, Rutland Water.
The Royal Liver Building, Liverpool.
And, Clare County Council, Ireland, is lighting up it’s social media in green to show support too!
Change your profile picture
Continuing the green theme, could you swap your profile picture on your social media account to our awareness day image? We have made one for businesses and teams too!
Simply right-click one of these images and select ‘save image as’. Then, replace your profile picture with this image on your social media accounts.
– If you still want your usual profile picture on show too, our friends at Inflamed Brain Alliance have created this fantastic profile frame.
Host a charity event
Fundraising doesn’t have to involve road closures, camera crews, or celebrities tackling Alaska… there are small things you can do at home that would make a huge difference to families affected by PANS or PANDAS. Could you use our new coin boxes* to raise funds on this Awareness Day?
Perhaps consider holding a cake sale, a coffee morning, or a sponsored silence… or simply ask your local shop to display a PANS PANDAS UK collection box on their till. We can provide fundraising tips, ideas, and free resources — including posters and stickers!
*fabulously modelled here by Lynn
Shout about us on your social media
Word of mouth is the most effective way to increase awareness. Mark this year’s awareness day by sharing our social media messages with your friends, family, colleagues, and the medical or educational professionals who support you. Don’t forget to tell them about our fantastic training available for medical professionals, teachers and educational psychologists.
It’s not just about PANS and PANDAS
Our upcoming conference is dedicated to supporting parents and carers whose lives are affected by PANS or PANDAS. It will help these families to navigate the challenges that come with under-recognised and underfunded conditions. However, we know there are many communities out there formed of families affected by rare or lesser-known conditions, just like PANS and PANDAS. Can you help us let other communities know about this incredible event?
Every day for the next month, our social media posts will feature information about the speakers participating in the conference. Please share these far and wide across your own social media channels, tagging any charities or communities that are also supporting families in similar circumstances. You could also tag any professionals or media figures who you think may benefit from an improved understanding of the challenges that so many families are facing.
