Sport Purple for Platelets Day rallies supporters every last Friday in September to raise awareness for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). This day encourages everyone to wear purple, share educational resources, and donate to research efforts. Join the movement to shed light on ITP, support affected individuals, and fund vital research.
Want to sponsor Sport Purple for Platelets Day? Learn how
Expected Sport Purple for Platelets Day Deals
As a cause-driven observance, Sport Purple for Platelets Day focuses on fundraising and awareness rather than commercial deals. The Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA), the primary sponsor, encourages donations directly through their website (pdsa.org). Many individuals and local businesses organize peer-to-peer fundraisers, often matching contributions or donating a percentage of sales. Look for community events like charity walks or virtual campaigns that promote wearing purple and sharing ITP facts. Pharmaceutical companies involved in ITP research, such as Sanofi and Takeda, may highlight their patient support programs or research initiatives. We will update this page with specific fundraising drives and awareness campaigns as September approaches.
Platform Guide for Sport Purple for Platelets Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #SportPurpleForPlateletsDay. Share photos wearing purple and educational infographics about ITP.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #SportPurpleForPlateletsDay. Engage in discussions about ITP research and patient stories.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #SportPurpleForPlateletsDay. Create a fundraiser or share personal stories of living with ITP.
Sport Purple for Platelets Day Hero
Dr. Robert McMillan
Sport Purple for Platelets Day timeline
​Paul Gottlieb Werlhof, a German physician and poet, wrote the most thorough explanation of the purpura of ITP.
​Investigators began to link purpura, a rash of purple spots made of small blood vessels that leak blood into various parts of the body, with platelet count abnormalities.
​Paul Kaznelson, a Polish medical student, contributed to the first successful therapy for ITP.
​They replaced splenectomies as the best remedy option.
The FDA approved ​Romiplostim — an injection that treats adult chronic ITP.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Sport Purple for Platelets Day
Local businesses can honor Sport Purple for Platelets Day by encouraging staff to wear purple and educating customers about ITP. Consider hosting a donation drive for the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA), perhaps matching customer contributions. Restaurants could offer a special purple-themed drink or dessert with a portion of proceeds going to ITP research. Pharmacies and health clinics can display informational posters and distribute leaflets about platelet disorders, fostering community awareness and support.
Sport Purple for Platelets Day FAQs
When is Sport Purple for Platelets Day?
Sport Purple for Platelets Day 2026 falls on Friday, September 25. This annual observance encourages everyone to wear purple to support those with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).
How many people are affected by ITP?
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is considered a rare disease, affecting approximately 50,000 to 60,000 adults in the United States. Incidence rates vary, with about 2 to 5 per 100,000 adults diagnosed annually.
What is the purpose of Sport Purple for Platelets Day?
The primary purpose of Sport Purple for Platelets Day is to raise public awareness about Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a challenging autoimmune bleeding disorder. It also serves to support affected individuals and fund research for better treatments and a cure.
What are platelets and why are they important?
Platelets are tiny, colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots and stop bleeding. They are crucial for hemostasis, the process that prevents blood loss when a blood vessel is injured. Without sufficient platelets, as in ITP, excessive bleeding and bruising can occur.
How to Observe Sport Purple for Platelets Day
Host a fundraiser
Raising money is a great way to help the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA) achieve its goals. Golf outings, bowl-a-thons, or walks are great fundraiser ideas that help bring the ITP community together, while also raising money and awareness.
Light up the night
Hanging purple lights is a luminous way to celebrate. First, reach out to friends and family, local office buildings and restaurants; then, contact those in charge of lighting bridges and skyscrapers in the city closest to you.
It may seem obvious, but…sport purple!
Wear purple, use purple pens at work and send your kids to school with purple accessories. If enough people in your community wear purple on September 27, then those who don’t know the significance of the day may inquire about it — creating a new opportunity to inform, educate and raise awareness.
​​5 ITP Facts To Consider While You Rock The Purple
It was one of the first autoimmune disorders discovered
ITP was one of the first diseases that proved the body’s own tissue could be attacked by its antibodies.
​It’s more common in women
​Women are twice as likely to get ITP than men.
​ITP can lower your life expectancy
​In fact, your life expectancy can be shortened by up to 20 years!
​Viral infections can cause it
​All viral infections can potentially lead to acute ITP.
​ITP can be the result of vaccines
​Some popular vaccines (MMR, HPV) have been linked to ITP.
Why Sport Purple for Platelets Day is Important
It spotlights a rare disease
Even though ITP affects more people than hemophilia — approximately 10 times more people — ITP isn't as well known. Sport Purple for Platelets Day offers a chance to educate the public on what it is and how to support those who have it.
It supports those who suffer from ITP
Not only does Sport Purple for Platelets Day raise money for programs and research funds, but the ITP community also benefits, socially. Fundraising events connect ITP sufferers with one another — and the environment can be therapeutic in a way that helps alleviate their anxiety.
It raises money for a worthy cause
Since its inception, Sport Purple for Platelets Day fundraising events have raised about $700,000. This money has been essential in helping fund the many free services and programs provided to ITP sufferers and their families, as well as funding for research.
Sport Purple for Platelets Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 26 | Friday |
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