International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month
Join us in marking a historic milestone - the inaugural International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month!
Throughout this dedicated month, we're shining a spotlight on mast cell diseases, fostering understanding, and igniting conversations worldwide.
From rare conditions like mastocytosis to the increasingly more common MCAS, these diseases affect many people globally.
Through education, advocacy, and support, together, we can make a difference. Let's raise awareness, inspire hope, and empower those impacted by mast cell diseases.
How to get involved
International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month is our opportunity to raise awareness, coming together as a community to shout about MCAS.
For this event to be a success, we need you to get involved!
Play Awareness Month bingo to see how many activities you can participate in from our special events calendar.
Tag us on social media @mastcellaction to let us know how you're celebrating International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month.
We can't wait to hear all about how you are joining us in raising awareness. Together we can make a difference and shine a light on MCAS.
Awareness day activities
We are excited to present a month-long calendar of activities designed to raise awareness, educate and support those affected by mast cell diseases. Mast cell diseases, including mastocytosis and MCAS, can be challenging to diagnose and manage.
We hope you will join in with the full activity calendar and help us to make some noise about MCAS this International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Through our events, we aim to shed light on these conditions and bring together our supportive community.
Download your calendar here.
Social media overlays
We need you to spread the word and tell your friends and family that you are supporting International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month.
Help us to raise awareness and tell the world all about mast cell disease.
You can download our social media overlays to add to your profile pictures below.
Facebook profile picture overlay
If you would like us to create your photo overlay for you, please get in touch.
The MCAS Step Challenge
Join the MCAS Step Challenge and stride towards a brighter future with each step you take. Whether it's five steps, a thousand steps or ten thousand steps, every stride counts in our mission to raise vital funds for the MCAS community.
Step into action and make a difference for the MCAS Community by setting your own personal challenge. This inclusive event invites everyone to participate at their own pace, ensuring that every step brings us closer to our fundraising goals.
Together, we'll walk, jog, or run towards better awareness, research, and support for those affected by Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Lace-up your shoes, sync your fitness tracker, and let's step forward as one community towards a healthier tomorrow.
Find out more - and sign up here! Once you've signed up, don't forget to get in touch for your free awareness t-shirt!
The Creative MCAS Challenge
If the MCAS Step Challenge isn't for you, why not join our Creative MCAS Challenge and crochet, write or draw your way through International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month to express your MCAS.
Even better, ask friends, family and colleagues to support your creations by sponsoring your craft sessions! Set up your JustGiving page here.
You could come along to our creative session with superstar volunteer Alice to join others with MCAS or suspected MCAS who enjoy being creative together.
Please share your creations with us using the #mcascreativechallenge and tag us @mastcellaction.
We would love to display your creations on our social media channels and website.
Facts about MCAS
As part of our awareness-raising activities, we are asking people to share facts about mast cell disease - helping us to break down barriers and educate the wider public about mast cell disease.
You can download our 'fact-graphics' here.
Awareness Month T-shirts
Order your International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month t-shirt today so it arrives in time to raise awareness throughout the month of June!
25% of profits will be donated to Mast Cell Action - to directly help the MCAS community.
Get your t-shirt for free when you sign up to The MCAS Step Challenge.
Why International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month Matters
Joy Mason is first and foremost a parent of 2 children who have MCAS, she also has MCAS and has spent the past decade working to help others in similar situations and to try to make life better for people like her and her children.
"As a parent, it is particularly heart-wrenching to watch my children navigate a world that isn’t always accommodating or understanding of their needs."
You can read Joy's blog here.
Why International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month Matters
This June we celebrate the inaugural World Mast Cell Awareness Day, and we couldn’t be more excited!
International Mast Cell Awareness Month is a month-long period dedicated to creating widespread awareness about MCAS.
Click here to read more about why dedicating an entire month to creating awareness about this disease is so important.
Community Stories - Jemma Heighway
Jemma Heighway has kindly shared her story with us, for International Mast Cell Disease Awareness Month.
"Living with MCAS has presented me with numerous challenges. However, I had many things that I wanted to achieve so took a proactive approach to managing this condition. It’s involved meticulous planning & making lifestyle adjustments: eating a low-histamine diet, avoiding triggers, staying organised with medications, practicing stress-management techniques, prioritising self-care, and surrounding myself with supportive individuals."
You can read more of Jemma's story here.
Awareness month activities
With so much noise to make about MCAS, June is jam-packed with virtual sessions for information, support and even some social meet-ups.
From our Women's Health Webinar with Dr Corrine Fletcher to Supplements and MCAS with Chloe Hall and Alison Holloway, if it's information you're looking for we have it covered!
From our regular Community Support Sessions to Mindfulness, there's plenty of supportive sessions for you to join.
And if you're looking for some opportunities to connect with others socially, why not try our Games Night or The MCAS Cafe?
Find a full list of virtual events here and don't forget to download our activity calendar here!
Watch this space for further updates coming soon!
Become a friend
Sign up to become a Friend of Mast Cell Action so we can keep you up to date on our progress and on how to get involved in our latest campaigns and initiatives.
Donate
Mast Cell Action relies entirely on the generosity of people like you. Please make a donation now and together we can make a difference to those affected by MCAS.