Mission: Cure started the #MyPurpleStrips challenge in 2023 as a way to bring awareness to chronic pancreatitis – a rare disease that affects about 0.012% of the world’s population – in honor of Rare Disease Day. The challenge offers patients an opportunity to share their unique experiences living with this disease and educate the public on what it means to have pancreatitis.

Rare Disease Day is an international movement and awareness event that aims to shed light on what it means to live with a rare disease. It also inspires global audiences to support organizations that are working to develop new therapies, increase healthcare access, and improve treatments for those living with a rare disease. Rare Disease Day happens on the last day of February each year.

Our main goal for the #MyPurpleStripes challenge is to raise awareness about chronic pancreatitis through social media, but there are other ways to support our mission! This includes: starting a fundraiser, making a donation, joining a clinical trial, or signing up for our email newsletter to stay up-to-date on ways to get involved and pancreatitis advancements.