CES Awareness Day is a national awareness campaign dedicated to Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Established by the Champions Charity, CES Awareness Day has been held annually on the 1st October since its inception in 2020.
Since then, we have enjoyed lots of support from patients, their partners, families and friends, which has helped make CES Awareness Day a successful annual event.
Why did we create CES Awareness Day?
It is our mission to raise the profile of Cauda Equina Syndrome everywhere.
CES is a spinal surgical emergency that can lead to lower limb paralysis and loss of bowel, bladder and sexual function if not assessed and treated urgently.
With around 8,000 suspected cases in England every year, it is vital that we raise awareness of the red flags of Cauda Equina, especially for those suffering with lower back pain.
When we realised there had never been a National Awareness Day, we announced the first ever CES Awareness Day on October 1st 2020.
What happens on CES Awareness Day?
All sorts! In previous years we have hosted webinars, fundraising events, and media campaigns to raise awareness of Cauda Equina Syndrome and those affected by it.
In 2020 we hosted an online festival with over 450 attendees, including contributions from patients and leading medical experts. In 2021 we organised an epic fundraising event called “Walking for CES” where we raised over £5,000 and collectively took over 40,000,000 steps
This year, we are marking the fourth anniversary with a CES Awareness Week running from 30th September to 4th October. CES Awareness Day will be Tuesday 1st October 2024.
Our media campaign this year focuses on the impact of CES on family and carers, and the limited access to support for CES patients after hospital.
- Less than 5% of CES patients get discharged with the info they need from hospitals/clinics
- 69% of patients say that medical professionals still don’t understand CES
- 64% say it’s very difficult for family and friends to understand CES and issues post surgery
How can I Support CES Awareness?
If you would like to be involved or have an idea you would like to share to help promote CES Awareness Day, please get in touch to let us know.
If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you will see our awareness campaigns so please give these a like and share them with your network.
We need your support and help to reach everybody in the CES community. CES Awareness Day is the most important day of the year for us to do this.
As well as sharing on social media with your friends and family, you can make a donation to support people affected by Cauda Equina Syndrome. Every single penny you donate goes directly to support patients. Visit our donation page to make a contribution
