Australian cities will be awash with blue and green on Wednesday, May 17 as part of Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month.
More than 100 buildings, monuments and landmarks across Australia will be lit blue and green to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis, one of Australia’s most common genetic neurological conditions.
Monash Park Tree and Riverlinks Eastbank in Shepparton, as well as the Mooroopna water tower, will be among the landmarks joining the event.
NF is a group of genetic conditions (NF1, NF2-related schwannomatosis and schwannomatosis) that cause tumours to form in the body. It can lead to significant health issues, including deafness, blindness, bone abnormalities, learning difficulties and chronic pain.
This NF Awareness Month includes many activities, including Shine a Light on NF and virtual challenge Steps Towards a Cure, and also will invite everyone to wear a blue and green ribbon in support of those impacted by NF.
As part of Shine a Light on NF, many iconic buildings and landmarks will light up across Australia, including Flinders St Station in Melbourne, Old Parliament House in Canberra, and Australia Square in Sydney.
Children’s Tumour Foundation chief executive Leanne Dib said this would be the third year Australia had joined the world to light up buildings blue and green in May.
“Despite affecting more than 10,000 Australians, NF manifests differently in each person,” she said.
“For those with visible signs of NF, they can struggle to be seen as more than their condition, while those with invisible symptoms often struggle to make others understand.”
Children’s Tumour Foundation is the only dedicated support service for people impacted by NF in Australia, and with no current cure, it hopes the Shine a Light on NF event will help more people gain awareness of the condition.