💜 Shine a Light on GAND 💚
GAND Awareness Month
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GAND Awareness Day
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This September, join families and supporters around the world as we Shine a Light on GAND.
Helping Hands for GAND established the first GAND Awareness Day on September 16, 2018. This year, we’re celebrating GAND Awareness Month, giving us an entire month to share our stories, educate our communities, raise critical funds, and build greater understanding and support for individuals and families living with GAND.
Then, on September 16, we come together for GAND Awareness Day—the centerpiece of the month and an opportunity to shine an even brighter light on our incredible global GAND community.
Awareness creates understanding. Understanding builds support. And support changes lives.
What is GAND?
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GAND, which is short for GATAD2B-Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorder, is an ultra-rare genetic condition caused by a change in the GATAD2B gene, which plays an important role in brain development.
Individuals with GAND may experience challenges with learning, communication, motor skills, and daily living. But every individual with GAND is unique, with their own strengths, interests, personality, and potential. 💜💚 GAND Is More Than a Diagnosis. We asked families: “What is your child’s superpower?” Their answers tell another important part of the GAND story in this SUPERPOWER WORD CLOUD. Joyful. Happiness. Love. Humor. Determination. Kindness. Laughter. These are just some of the words families shared to describe their loved ones with GAND. This is GAND, too. 💜💚 The more people who know about GAND, the stronger our community becomes. LEARN MORE ABOUT GAND. |
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Why Shine a Light on GAND?
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When a condition is as rare as GAND, awareness matters.
Throughout September, our global community comes together to help more people see, understand, and support individuals and families living with GAND. By sharing our stories and introducing GAND to our friends, families, schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, churches, and local communities, we can help: 💜 Families find information, connection, and support. 💚 Educators, therapists, and healthcare professionals better understand GAND. 💜 Increase awareness and opportunities for research. 💚 Create greater understanding and inclusion in our communities. 💜 Build more resources and support for individuals and families living with GAND. Every conversation creates awareness. Every story builds understanding.
Every act of support makes a difference. |
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How Will YOU Shine a Light on GAND?
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WEAR YOUR SUPPORTWear your GAND Awareness gear throughout September—and especially on September 16, GAND Awareness Day. Get your new Shine a Light on GAND gear by August 24 to receive it in time, and wear it proudly to help spread awareness!
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September 16 is GAND Awareness DAY! |
September 16 is our day to come together as one global community and Shine a Light on GAND.
Whether GAND is part of your family or you're standing alongside someone you love, we invite you to join us. On September 16: 💜 Wear your GAND Awareness gear or purple and/or green. 💚 Share the story of someone you love with GAND. 💜 Share a GAND fact or awareness post. 💚 Introduce someone new to GAND. 💜 Support or share a GAND family's fundraiser. 💚 Make a gift to Helping Hands for GAND. One day. One community. One big opportunity to help the world learn about GAND. |
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Your GAND Awareness Toolkit
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We've made it easy to help spread awareness this September.
Whether you want to share a post, educate your child's school, introduce GAND to your workplace, or involve your entire community, you'll find ready-to-use resources in our 2026 GAND Awareness Toolkit. Inside the Toolkit: ✅ 01 — START HERE Your Shine a Light on GAND Campaign Guide + Family Checklist with everything you need to get started and participate throughout September. 📣 02 — SHAREABLE RESOURCES Easy-to-share GAND educational materials, including the GAND Fact Sheet, printable Awareness Flyer, and other resources to help you spread the word. 📄 03 — LETTERS Ready-to-personalize letters for schools, workplaces, churches/community organizations, plus a GAND Awareness Day proclamation request template. 💜 04 — AWARENESS SOCIAL POSTS & EMAILS Ready-to-copy awareness posts and email messages you can personalize and share with friends, family, and your broader community throughout September. 💰 05 — FUNDRAISING SOCIAL POSTS & EMAILS Peer-to-peer fundraising guidance plus ready-to-copy posts and emails to help you launch your fundraiser, ask for support, share your progress, and make a final September push. 🎨 06 — COLORING PAGES Printable GAND coloring pages for children, families, classrooms, and community activities. Suggested Hashtags: #ShineALightOnGAND #GANDAwareness2026 #GANDStrong #GATAD2B #RareDisease Everything you need to Shine a Light on GAND |
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What Your Support Makes Possible
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Awareness is only the beginning.
Every story shared, fundraiser created, and donation made helps Helping Hands for GAND continue building a stronger future for individuals and families living with GAND. Your support will help us: 💜 Launch the GAND Patient Registry to advance our understanding of GAND and support future research. 💚 Expand resources for GAND families, caregivers, educators, healthcare providers, and loved ones. 💜 Grow our year-round virtual community through family chats, education, and opportunities to connect with one another. 💚 Prepare for the 2027 Virtual GAND Conference, making education, research updates, and community connection accessible to families around the world. 💜 Build toward the 2028 In-Person GAND Gathering & Scientific Conference, bringing our global community together for connection, education, collaboration, and hope. Your support today helps us build what's next. |
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Together, We Can Shine a Light on GAND
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Every family has a story. Every supporter has a way to make a difference.
Whether you share a post, tell a friend about GAND, educate your school or workplace, wear purple and green, start a fundraiser, or make a gift, you are helping more people see, understand, and support the GAND community. September is GAND Awareness Month. September 16 is GAND Awareness Day. And together, we can Shine a Light on GAND far beyond September. |
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More Ways to Shine a Light on GAND
Shine a Light on GAND Gear
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Shine a Light on GAND all month long with our Shine a Light on GAND gear!
Wear your gear proudly, invite your friends and family to join you, and help spark conversations that introduce more people to GAND. Order by August 24 to receive your gear in time for GAND Awareness Day on September 16! |
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Support on the Go
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Raise awareness while simply driving around town with this 8" Car-Safe magnet. For every magnet ordered, $5.00 will be donated to Helping Hands for GAND.
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Share GAND With Local Media
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Your family's story can help introduce an entire community to GAND. Consider contacting your local newspaper, television station, community publication, or other media outlet during GAND Awareness Month.
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Request a Proclamation
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Ask your state or local government to officially recognize September 16 as GAND Awareness Day. We've created sample language to help you get started.
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Follow & Share!
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Follow Helping Hands for GAND throughout September and share our GAND Awareness Month posts with your own network. Follow through the social links below!
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