Facebook Pixel
TAMS light up perth 2021

Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day 2023

20 October 2023 will be the sixth annual International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day.

Our SpotOurSpots campaign and Awareness Day raises awareness of the need for more accurate diagnostics, better treatments, further investments in research and builds hope for mast cell disease patients all over Australia of a brighter, healthier future.

In 2023, The Australasian Mastocytosis Society (TAMS) is partnering with landmarks to light up purple (the international colour for Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome).

Additionally, in 2023, we invite our members and friends to join forces in covering our TAMS Facebook and Instagram pages in purple in honour of the 6th International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day with our new “SpotOurSpots: Bring colour to mast cell disease awareness 2023” campaign.

We encourage everybody to join and support us in the commemoration of this day, together we can make the difference.

Feel free to share TAMS Awareness Day social media post to all of your friends – check out the TAMS public Facebook page and Instagram to share.

Be sure to use the hashtag #SpotOurSpots and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

UPCOMING EVENT

DATE OF EVENT

20 October 2023

 

ADDRESS OF EVENT

100+ landmarks across Australia and New Zealand

Get involved in 2023

Light-up locations october 2023
Bring colour to mast cell disease awareness 2023

#SpotOurSpots lighting up in October 2023

Where you can #SpotOurSpots in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

The Australiasian Mastocytosis Society (TAMS) would like to thank the generosity of the following landmarks for changing their colours, free of charge, to help raise awareness about Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).

We encourage people to safely take photos of themselves at/near these places and post them on social media with the hashtag #SpotOurSpots to help raise awareness. You can also email them to info@mastocytosis.org.au for us to share.

Australian Capital Territory
  1. Questacon – with thanks to The National Science and Technology Centre
  2. Old Parliament House (The Museum of Australian Democracy) – with thanks to the National Capital Authority
  3. The Royal Australian Mint
  4. The National Museum of Australia
  5. Light Rail (all stops) – with thanks to Transport Canberra and City Services and Canberra Metro Operations: CMET (20 & 21 Oct)
  6. Telstra Tower – with thanks to Telstra (21 Oct)
  7. Shine Dome – Australian Academy of Science
  8. Kings Avenue Bridge – with thanks to the National Capital Authority
  9. Bowen Place Overpass – with thanks to the National Capital Authority
  10. The National Archives
  11. The Canberra Times Fountain – with thanks to Transport Canberra and City Services (20 & 21 Oct)
  12. National Carillion with thanks to the National Capital Authority (*Light-up will be going ahead despite pending construction. Please be mindful that this may impact the brightness of lighting and overall appearance.)
New South Wales
  1. Sydney Olympic Park Accor Stadium – with thanks to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (20 Oct)
  2. Sydney Olympic Boulevard Light Towers – with thanks to the Sydney Olympic Park Authority
  3. Forbes Town Hall – with thanks to the Forbes Shire Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  4. City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong – with thanks to the City Beach Function Centre (upgrades may interfere)
  5. Albury Entertainment Centre – with thanks to Albury City (20 & 21 Oct)
  6. AEC Theatre – with thanks to AlburyCity (20 & 21 Oct)
  7. The Goulburn Visitors Information Centre – with thanks to the Goulburn Mulwaree Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  8. The Golden Dog – with thanks to The Golden Dog Hotel Glenreagh (13 – 31 Oct)
  9. The Big Banana – with thanks to The Big Banana Fun Park Coffs Harbour (dates TBC)
  10. Luna Park Sydney
  11. The Glasshouse Port Macquarie – with thanks to the Glasshouse and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
  12. Port Macquarie Town Green – with thanks to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Northern Territory
  1. Palmerston Water Tower – with thanks to the City of Palmerston (21 – 23 Oct)
  2. Frances Drive Light Pole – with thanks to the City of Palmerston (21 – 23 Oct)
  3. Katherine Town Council Civic Centre – with thanks to the Katherine Town Council (21 – 22 Oct)
Queensland
  1. Sandgate Town Hall – with thanks to Brisbane City Council (22 Oct)
  2. Victoria Bridge –  with thanks to Brisbane City Council (18 Oct)
  3. Reddacliff Place sculptures Donna Marcus: Steam 2006 – with thanks to Brisbane City Council (18 Oct)
  4. Tropical Dome at Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha – with thanks to Brisbane City Council (18 Oct)
  5. Breakfast Creek Bridge – with thanks to the Brisbane City Council (18 Oct)
  6. Jacaranda Tower – with thanks to the City of Logan
  7. Telfer Water Tower – with thanks to the City of Logan
  8. Wineglass Water Tower – with thanks to the City of Logan
  9. Brisbane City Hall – with thanks to Brisbane City Council (22 Oct)
  10. King George Square – with thanks to Brisbane City Council (22 Oct)
  11. Longreach Water Tower – with thanks to the Longreach Regional Council (20, 21, 22 Oct) 
  12. Queensland Performing Arts Centre
  13. Kurilpa Bridge, South Brisbane – with thanks to the Department of Public Works (18 Oct)
  14. Ipswich Civic Centre – with thanks to the City of Ipswich (20 & 21 Oct)
  15. Suncorp Stadium (22 Oct)
  16. Forgan Smith building – with thanks to the University of Queensland (20 & 21 Oct)
  17. Mayne Medical building – with thanks the University of Queensland (20 & 21 Oct)
  18. Albany Town Square – with thanks to the City of Albany (24 – 26 Oct) 
  19. Alison Hartman Gardens – with thanks to the City of Albany (22 – 24 Oct)
  20. Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building – with thanks to Mackay Regional Council
South Australia
  1. SkyCity sign (river facing expansion) – with thanks to SkyCity Adelaide (20 & 21 Oct)
  2. Adelaide Oval (19 Oct)
  3. Adelaide Town Hall – with thanks to The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith and City of Adelaide (20 & 21 Oct)
  4. South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (21 & 22 Oct)
  5. Newcastle City Hall Clock Tower – with thanks to the City of Newcastle
  6. Adelaide Oval (19 Oct)
Tasmania
  1. Wrest Point – with thanks to Wrest Point Casino and Hotel (22 Oct)
Victoria
  1. Fed Square
  2. Kingston Clock Tower – with thanks to the City of Kingston and Kingston Arts (20 & 21 Oct)
  3. Old Treasury Building (20 & 21 Oct)
  4. Crown Casino – Kingsway Flyover Billboard (16 – 20 Oct)
  5. AAMI Park – with thanks to the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust  (18 – 20 Oct)
  6. Melbourne Town Hall – with thanks to the City of Melbourne
  7. 120 Collins St – with thanks to the  Investa Property Group
  8. Melbourne Cricket Ground
  9. Town Hall Broadmeadows – with thanks to the Hume City Council
  10. Sunbury Fountain – with thanks to the Hume City Council
  11. The Drum Theatre – with thanks to the City of Greater Dandenong (19 – 21 Oct)
  12. CityLink Sound Tube – with thanks to Transurban
  13. Bolte Bridge – with thanks to Transurban
  14. 101 Collins St (20 & 21 Oct)
  15. Flinders Street Station – with thanks to Development Victoria (20 & 21 Oct)
Western Australia
  1. Mandurah Bridge – with thanks to the City of Mandurah
  2. Perth Concert Hall 
  3. East Perth Power Station – with thanks to DevelopmentWA (20 & 21 Oct)
  4. The Building – 565 Hay St  
  5. Marlston Hill Lookout – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  6. Koombana Bay Footbridge – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  7. Koombana Bay Foreshore – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  8. Marlston Waterfront – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  9. Guppy Park – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  10. The Navigators at the Koombana Drive Roundabout – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  11. Richmond Reserve – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  12. Arrol Crane, Jetty Road – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct) 
  13. Koolambidi Woola (Bunbury’s youth precinct) – with thanks to the City of Bunbury (20 & 21 Oct)
  14. Margaret River Town Centre – with thanks to the Shire of Augusta Margaret River (20 & 21 Oct)
  15. Matagarup Bridge – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  16. Joondalup Drive – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  17. Mounts Street Bridge – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  18. Sky Bridge – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  19. Northbridge Tunnel – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  20. Graham Farmer Freeway Tunnel – with thanks to Mainroad WA (21 Oct)
  21. Kings Park – with thanks to the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and Kings Park Botanic Garden
  22. Perth Parliament House (Fountain) – with thanks to the Parliament of Western Australia (20 & 21 Oct)
  23. The Bell Tower (19 & 20 Oct)
  24. St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital – with thanks to St John of God Health Care
  25. William Grundt Memorial Library and Eastern Goldfields Community Centre – with thanks to the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder (22 & 23 Oct)
  26. Unley Town Hall – with thanks to the City of Unley
  27. QV1 “Ring of Confidence”
Aotearoa New Zealand
  1. Feldwick Gates – with thanks to the Invercargill City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  2. Gala Street Fountain – with thanks to the Invercargill City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  3. The Queen’s Park Band Rotunda – with thanks to the Invercargill City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  4. Oamaru Opera House – with thanks to the Waiktaki District Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  5. Eden Park – with thanks to The Eden Park Trust (20 & 21 Oct)​
  6. The Botanical Gardens – with thanks to the Christchurch City Council (20 & 21 Oct)​
  7. Bridge of Remembrance – with thanks to the Christchurch City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  8. Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square) – with thanks to the Christchurch City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  9. Vaka A Hine – with thanks to the Christchurch City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  10. Scott Park reserve – with thanks to the Christchurch City Council (20 & 21 Oct)
  11. Hastings Clock Tower – with thanks to the Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and Hastings District Council (20 & 21 October) ​

Disclaimer

Due to unforeseen circumstances, some buildings may change their plans without notification. TAMS tries to make sure all information on this website, and the details of buildings lighting up are correct. We try to verify and confirm as much as possible, but are not responsible for incorrect information.

Current as at 20 October 2023.

#SpotOurSpots: Bring colour to mast cell disease awareness 2023

Welcome to the 2023 #SpotOurSpots campaign, where we invite our cherished members and friends to join forces in covering our TAMS Facebook and Instagram pages in purple in honour of the 6th International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day. An initiative dedicated to amplifying recognition, awareness, and support for individuals living with mast cell diseases and their loved ones.

To get our creative minds thinking, TAMS has curated a slideshow featuring examples of activities and crafts, which we hope will inspire our community’s participation in this vital campaign. However, you’ll notice one striking absence in these visuals – our signature purple hues! That’s because this year we’re turning the spotlight onto our community, asking that you all step up to be agents of change in this year’s #SpotOurSpots campaign.

Following the event, TAMS will compile a gallery of your crafted contributions and activities infused with vibrant shades of purple, replacing the original generic and monochromatic images we shared. Our slideshow will stand as a testament to our collective journey, not just as TAMS, or as patients and caregivers, but as individuals brimming with skills, creativity, and passion: living with mast cell diseases, not defined by them.

Your contributions to this campaign will enable TAMS to sustain the momentum of raising awareness within our community, not just on Awareness Day, but throughout the year.

Let’s work together to harness the power of our creativity and elevate the #SpotOurSpots campaign beyond our light up initiative to one that represents the reason for our cause, being the unique, resilient, diversely talented, creative, passionate individuals that make up our rare, but important community.

How to participate in Awareness Day

Be part of the movement that illuminates the path to understanding and awareness of Mast Cell Diseases on International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day 2023.

For those needing a little inspiration TAMS has compiled some crafts we’d love to see or members and friends turn into hope-inspiring purple and awareness day themed creations.

  • Snap a photo of yourself (or a group-shot!) dressed in purple clothes or spots.
  • Use your LEDs, colour-changing globes, a projector, or cellophane to make your house glow purple.
  • Knit something with purple, pink and white yarn or wool, or add spots to a design.
  • Make origami (like a wishing crane) using purple paper, or start with white paper and colour it in.
  • Make a beaded purple, pink and white door frame or wall hanging, some jewellery, or a keychain.
  • Create a drawing of your own, or colour in an existing one (like the TAMS Quoll)
  • Make some textile art using cross stitch, embroidery, felting, quilting, crocheting, amigurumi, or needle punch.
  • Make an awareness collage or scrapbook up a purple storm.
  • Create a mast cell-inspired paper quilling.
  • Paint something on a canvas using watercolours, acrylics, or oils. Or try colouring outside the lines by using rocks or a window as your canvas!
  • Create an Awareness Day-themed artwork on a digital medium.
  • Baking and dessert decoration (sugar cookies, cake-pops or cakes etc)
  • Host your tabletop role-playing game “one-shot” that pitches players against a giant mast cell and its mediator minions (included).
  • Write an awareness poem, short story or recipe (purple, low histamine, etc.)
  • Make some cell art with resin – from petrie to pretty.
  • Craft a clay creation, like something made of ceramics or pottery.
  • October Jack-O-Lanterns with a #SpotOurSpots twist! Maybe paint yours purple or spotty, or carve a mast cell design to shine your light through.
  • Make media using TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Share-friendly content, including wording, is available on TAMS and the International Awareness Day Facebook page. Please ensure you’re either sharing TAMS information or speaking about your experiences please 🙂
Activities with children

For families with younger children we’ve compiled a few simple ways to be involved with the help of little hands.

Tween/teen activity suggestions

Below are suggestions for tweens, teens and their families. While some of the crafts are similar, don’t be fooled, they require “levelled up” skills!

Share This