Join us all week to raise awareness, share knowledge and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by mitochondrial disease.
World Mitochondrial Disease Week 2026
Join us from 14th to 20th September 2026 as we raise vital awareness, share life-changing knowledge and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by mitochondrial disease across the UK.
From Land’s End to John O’Groats, we’re on a mission to get people talking about mitochondrial disease. Raising awareness helps drive groundbreaking medical research, fund family support and improve care – and World Mitochondrial Disease Week is the perfect time to make that happen.
What is World Mitochondrial Disease Week?
Every September, World Mitochondrial Disease Week unites people around the world to shine a light on mitochondrial disease.
An initiative of the International Mito Patients (IMP), a global network of patient organisations, this collaborative campaign highlights the daily realities of living with an incurable mitochondrial disorder while driving the urgent search for effective treatments and a cure.
Simple ways to get involved
Whether you have two minutes or a day, every action helps put mito on the map. Here’s how you can make a difference from anywhere in the UK:
Spark vital conversations online by sharing key facts and stats on social media. We’ve created a collection of easy-to-use graphics for you to download and share.
We’ll be sharing these during awareness week, but feel free to share them too. Tag us and use #mitoaware so we can reshare your posts.
Set up an awareness stand at your workplace, school or community hub. Face-to-face conversations are one of the most powerful ways to spread the word.
Request your FREE pack today, filled with leaflets, wristbands, stickers, bunting, balloons and plenty more to help get the word out there.
Light Up for Mito – Saturday 19th September
On Saturday 19th September, landmarks worldwide will illuminate green for mitochondrial disease awareness. You can bring this global movement to your own doorstep:
Download our ready-to-use email template to request your local council or landmark light up their venue, and see if you can get local press involved.
Closer to home, swap a porch bulb for green, wrap green LED lights around your window or display a green lantern in your garden.
It’s a great way to show your support, raise awareness in your community and share a powerful image on social media. And don’t forget to tag us, as we’ll be highlighting your photos throughout the week!
Why raising awareness about mitochondrial disease matters
Mitochondrial dysfunction isn't just central to primary mitochondrial disorders – it’s increasingly recognised by researchers as a key factor in more widely known conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, epilepsy and diabetes.
When you support research funded by The Lily Foundation, you’re not just helping those living with rare mitochondrial diseases; you’re supporting research that could unlock treatments for millions of people worldwide. Mitochondrial disease research could be the gateway to some of the most critical medical breakthroughs of our time.
Need help or inspiration?
Whether you’re planning a green bake sale, lighting up your house or organising an awareness stand, we’re here to help! Get in touch for ideas, materials or support – and don’t forget to let us know what you’re up to.
Whatever you’re doing to mark World Mitochondrial Disease Week, we’d love to share it. Tag us on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Tiktok or email [email protected] and we’ll help spread the word far and wide!
Together, we can make World Mitochondrial Disease Week 2026 our most impactful yet. Let’s put mito on the map!
