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When the System Fails, We Rise Together: Why October 20 Matters for the MCAS Community

Updated: 1 day ago

Emily Foucault stands smiling in front of the CN Tower in Toronto, which is illuminated in purple for the first time in recognition of International Mastocytosis and MCAS Awareness Day in 2023. The purple lighting symbolizes awareness and advocacy for the underdiagnosed MCAS community in Canada.
Emily Foucault proudly leading the way and celebrating the inaugural lighting of the CN Tower for Mast Cell Awareness Day on October 20, 2023.

Every year on October 20, patients, advocates, and allies across the globe recognize International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Awareness Day — but this year, the stakes feel higher than ever.


For the millions affected by Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) — an underrecognized condition of immune dysregulation that affects multiple systems in the body — care is growing increasingly scarce. In Canada, the retirement of one of

our country’s only MCAS specialists has left thousands of people, including myself, without access to proper treatment, diagnoses, or even understanding from the healthcare system.


This isn’t just a patient problem. It’s a system failure.


The Stats You Need to Know


  • MCAS may affect up to 17% of the global population, though most cases remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed (Source: MDPI, 2023).


  • In Canada, there is no formal training pipeline, no network of specialists, and no public investment in MCAS-specific diagnostics.


  • As of 2023, 3.5 million Canadians reported experiencing long-term symptoms after COVID-19 infection — many of which overlap significantly with MCAS: brain fog, fatigue, GI issues, immune dysregulation (Source: Statistics Canada, 2023).


  • Patients are paying thousands for out-of-country care because there’s nowhere else to go.


And yet, awareness is growing:


  • #MCAS content has reached over 130 million views on TikTok (Source: Self, 2024).


  • MCAS advocacy organizations in the UK, US, and Canada are lighting up landmarks worldwide to shine a light on the disease — literally and figuratively.


This October, We Take Action Together


For the past two years, the CN Tower has been lit in purple on October 20 in recognition of International Mastocytosis and MCAS Awareness Day. This year, we’re expanding that visibility by lighting the TORONTO Sign and Niagara Falls and encouraging other monuments to follow.


But this movement goes beyond lights.


It’s about lives.


It’s about raising our voices to demand research, training, diagnosis, and care for the thousands falling through the cracks.


🔗 MCAS Awareness Day: Here’s How You Can Help


This blog is the central landing place for International Mastocytosis and MCAS Awareness Day in Toronto and beyond. Here’s how you can get involved:


🟣 1. Open Letters to Government

We’ve created customizable, downloadable open letters to federal and provincial Ministers of Health, calling for:


  • Physician training and Continuing Medical Educational (CME) funding

  • Specialist recruitment (including U.S.-based immunologists)

  • Canadian research initiatives

  • Diagnostic infrastructure






👉 [Click above to email the letters to your Federal and Provincial leaders]


🟣 2. Monument Lightings

Let’s make Canada glow in purple.


Confirmed so far:


Want your city’s landmark to participate? Suggest a location here.

Do you know of a Canadian landmark that will be lit up in purple, let us know, here!


🟣 3. Meet Us at Stackt Market – Oct 20

We’re organizing a casual International Mastocytosis and MCAS Awareness Day at Stackt Market in downtown Toronto on October 20 — for details email Emily here. Wear purple, bring a friend, and connect with others in our community.


📍 Location: Stackt Market, 28 Bathurst St

🕕 Time: TBD (follow @emilyfoucault for updates)


🟣 4. Share Your Voice

A bold purple graphic promoting International Mastocytosis and MCAS Awareness Day on October 20. A large purple awareness ribbon is centered against a dark purple background. The text reads: “MCAS may affect up to 17% globally — yet most Canadian doctors aren’t trained to treat it.” Below the ribbon, it says: “Take Action. Share Your Story. #MCASCanada.” A small note cites the source as MDPI, 2023.
Click on the image to download and share your story on social media using #MCASCanada

We’re launching a social campaign called #MCASCanada leading up to October 20.

Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or ally, your voice matters.


Post a photo, share your story, or amplify our content using:


📰 Articles & Media

As the momentum builds, I’ve contributed two articles to help shed light on this crisis. If you have media to share please connect here to share:


🔗 Healthy Debate – A look at the MCAS care crisis in Canada and why we can’t afford to look away 👉 read here


🔗 Yahoo! Style – My personal journey navigating the healthcare system and the road to diagnosis 👉 read here





🫶 This is More Than Awareness. It’s a Call for Unity.

Whether you’ve just learned about MCAS or you’ve been living with it for years — you’re not alone.


Join us in calling for change. For care. For compassion.


Let’s show Toronto and beyond what happens when we rise in Purple together.

Elegant handwritten signature in gold script that reads “Emily Foucault,” styled in flowing cursive with a metallic shimmer effect.

– Emily Foucault

Speaker & Storyteller | Patient Advisor | Communications Partner 

 

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