World Rare Disease Day is celebrated on the last day of February… A day that changes depending on the year, since it can be on the 28th… or 29th. In fact, it was chosen on purpose to associate the rarity of this day with the illnesses it commemorates. Rare diseases are diseases that affect a very small percentage of the population; they are very rare! Many times they have a genetic component, and since there are so few cases, they are not usually prioritized when investigating treatments and medications. This day serves to promote research and study to find the causes of these diseases and treatments that can improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from them. Some examples of rare diseases would be Alport Syndrome, Elephantiasis, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. On this day of rare diseases, you can support by making a donation or simply informing yourself about the issue and showing your support to the people around you who suffer from any of these diseases!