Sport Purple for Platelets Day

Sport Purple for Platelets Day

Sport Purple for Platelets Day takes place on the last Friday of each September. On this day, we wear our purple gear to raise awareness for ITP and other platelet disorders. The perfect fusion of the calm stability of blue with the fierce energy of red, purple is said to have the power to uplift, calm nerves and encourage peace. Purple is also known to represent bravery and in immune thrombocytopenia, it signifies one of the most distinctive symptoms of ITP – the spontaneous bruise.

Join the Platelet Disorder Support Association as they Sport Purple for Platelets^SM! Honor the courage of ITP Warriors, celebrate their inspiring spirit, and build strength to beat ITP! Wear a purple enamel awareness pin, fabric ribbon or purple wristband bracelet in support of Sport Purple for Platelets Day.

Wear Purple for Sport Purple for Platelets Day

Don your purple pins, ribbons, wristbands, hair, nails, hats, footwear – and more – and let’s raise awareness for ITP! You can even dress your pets in purple and/or deck your halls with purple lights, too! Sport Purple for Platelets Day is a global event. There’s no limit to how YOU can paint the world purple and help bring attention to ITP and other platelet disorders.

What is ITP?

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an illness that can lead to bruising and bleeding. Low levels of the cells that help blood clot, also known as platelets, most often cause the bleeding. Once known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, ITP can cause purple bruises. It also can cause tiny reddish-purple dots on the skin that look like a rash.

Children can get ITP after a virus. They most often get better without treatment. In adults, the illness often lasts months or years. People with ITP who aren’t bleeding and whose platelet count isn’t too low might not need treatment. For worse symptoms, treatment might include medicines to raise platelet count or surgery to remove the spleen.

Causes of ITP

Immune thrombocytopenia usually happens when the immune system makes a mistake. It attacks and destroys the cells that help blood clot, also known as platelets. In adults, an infection with HIV, hepatitis or the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, known as H. pylori, can cause ITP. In most children with ITP, the disorder follows a virus, such as the mumps or the flu.

Immune thrombocytopenia might not have symptoms. When symptoms occur, they might include:

• Easy bruising.
• Bleeding into the skin that looks like tiny reddish-purple spots, also known as petechiae. The spots mostly show up on the lower legs. They look like a rash.
• Bleeding into the skin that’s larger than petechiae, also known as purpura.
• Bleeding from the gums or nose.
• Blood in urine or stools.
• Really heavy menstrual flow.

Increasing Awareness to Improve Outcomes on Sport Purple for Platelets Day

Sport Purple for Platelets Day is the perfect day to inform others about ITP. This includes what it is, how it affects you, and how they can help you raise awareness. Ask your family, friends, colleagues, and classmates to join you. Even consider holding an event in your office or at your school to help others better understand this rare disease. Want to spread the word even farther? Email your friends and family across the globe and ask them to join you in recognizing this special day by sporting purple!

Join the movement! Increasing awareness of ITP and the ITP community will bring attention to this rare bleeding disorder and help advance better outcomes for those living with it.