European Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) Awareness Day
In 2023 the European VWD Community marked its first Awareness Day, with the ambition to increase and improve diagnosis and treatment options at the European and national levels.
This celebration has been set by the EHC VWD Committee on the birthday of Erik Adolf von Willebrand, on 1 February, to raise global awareness of VWD.
European VWD Awareness Day 2025
For the third consecutive year, the EHC led the campaign for European VWD Awareness Day on February 1, bringing attention to the challenges faced by patients with VWD. This year’s theme was “Making the invisible visible”.
VWD is an inherited bleeding disorder that affects both men and women – actually, the most common bleeding disorder affecting up to 1% of the population. Despite this, many patients face challenges in receiving a proper diagnosis, accessing treatment, and dealing with lifelong stigma. Especially women, who often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years, despite frequent nosebleeds, excessive bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, and prolonged bleeding after injuries or surgeries, all of which can significantly impact daily life.
To mark VWD Awareness Day 2025, the EHC released the series of first 10 videos which are part of the online educational programme “Topic on Focus: VWD” organised with ERN-EuroBloodNet, including expert-led webinars covering key aspects of VWD. These videos feature medical insights, personal experiences, and practical strategies to help patients and caregivers navigate life with this condition.
The first 10 webinars are available on the @EHCTVChannel YouTube channel and are designed for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about VWD. Among them, several insightful episodes focus on women with VWD.
As part of our campaign, our VWD Committee members shared their personal experiences and hopes for the future. Their voices are vital in spreading awareness and encouraging those impacted by VWD. Let’s work together to make sure no patient with VWD feels invisible. ❤️
European VWD Awareness Day 2024
Following the success of the previous first-ever campaign, on VWD Awareness Day the EHC unveiled the European VWD Community’s new motto and brand identity.
Besides, on 1 February 2024 the EHC VWD Committee and ERN-EuroBloodNet (European Reference Network on Rare Hematological Diseases) launched their new joint educational programme on Von Willebrand Disease with a webinar to talk about why and how VWD differs from haemophilia.
Speakers of the webinar were Prof Jeroen Eikenboom (Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands) and Baiba Ziemele (Latvia Hemophilia Society, EHC VWD Committee, WFH VWD Committee, ERN-EuroBloodNet ePAG).
European VWD Awareness Day 2023
For this first-ever campaign, the EHC VWD Committee had partnered with Agate Lielpētere, a Latvian visual artist, who shone a light on one of the primary VWD symptoms – bruising – and the psycho-social impact on all PwVWD.
The project How Did That Happen was specifically created to raise awareness ofVWD and all those impacted and affected by the condition.
We would like to thank our Slovenian NMO, Društvo Hemofilikov Slovenije, for supporting the VWD Committee in this campaign. We cannot be thankful enough to the Slovenian patients and family members for their cooperation, creativity, and willingness to make a difference for all PwVWD. Our special thanks to Matias Kavčič, Nadja, Matjaž, Nina, Janez Dolinšek, and Mojca.