World CCA Day

Light Ireland Green on the 20th of February 2025.

📢 CALL TO ACTION: SUPPORT #WorldCCAday & #LightIrelandGreenForCCA #greenforCCA


Date: February 20, 2025
Who is this for? County & City Councils, Landmark Institutions, Educational Institutes, Workplaces, Public Spaces and everyone

🌍 Why We Need Your Support

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), also known as bile duct cancer, is a rare but increasingly prevalent cancer. Early detection and access to timely treatment are crucial for survival, yet many barriers still exist in Ireland. By participating in #WorldCCAday and joining our #LightIrelandGreenForCCA campaign on February 20, 2025, you are helping to shine a light on the urgent changes needed to improve outcomes for patients and families affected by CCA.

This year, we’re asking you to do something simple but powerful — Wear Green. It’s Ireland’s national color, and chances are, you already have something green in your wardrobe. Whether it’s a jumper, a scarf, or a tie — wear it with pride on February 20 and be part of a national movement for change.

🎉 How Can You Get Involved?

1️⃣ Wear Something Green – It can be a jumper, a scarf, a hat, or even a pair of socks! Encourage your staff, students, and community to do the same.
2️⃣ Light Your Building, Landmark, or Office Green on February 20, 2025 – Simple green LED lighting can make a big statement.
3️⃣ Post Photos and Videos on Social Media – Take a picture of your green outfit or lit-up landmark and share it with the hashtags #LightIrelandGreenForCCA and #WorldCCAday.
4️⃣ Engage Your Local Community – Invite local schools, councils, and businesses to join the movement and wear green on the day.
5️⃣ Spread the Word – Encourage local media, newspapers, and radio to cover the campaign and highlight the movement for change.

🚦 Why It Matters: Key Reasons to Get Involved

1️⃣ Awareness Saves Lives

Early detection can be the difference between life and death for cholangiocarcinoma patients. Too often, people miss or dismiss symptoms like abdominal pain, jaundice, or unexplained weight loss. By encouraging your community to wear green and light Ireland green, we send a clear message: "Don’t ignore your symptoms — seek help early."

2️⃣ Call for a National HPB (Hepatobiliary) Diagnostic Pathway

Unlike the UK, Ireland does not have a formal diagnostic pathway for gastric, liver, and bile duct cancers. The UK has implemented the Fast Diagnostic Service (FDS), ensuring faster and earlier diagnoses. Ireland deserves the same. Wearing green and lighting up our landmarks is a bold visual statement calling for change.

3️⃣ Access to Standard-of-Care Treatments

While the European Medicines Agency (EMA) defines standard-of-care treatments, patients in Ireland still experience delays in accessing these life-extending treatments. Our message is clear:

  • Ireland must approve all EMA-standard treatments for cholangiocarcinoma.

  • Patients in Ireland deserve access to new technologies, therapies, and clinical trials just like their counterparts in other European countries.

4️⃣ Emphasize the Importance of Early Detection

Early detection is everything. For cholangiocarcinoma, early-stage diagnosis means patients have the option of surgery, which can be life-saving. But without awareness, early detection rarely happens. By wearing green on February 20, we shine a light on the signs and symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored.

5️⃣ The Need for a Central Centre of Expertise for CCA

Rare cancers like CCA need dedicated care centers with expert teams who specialize in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. We are calling for a National Centre of Expertise for CCA in Ireland, where patients will have access to:

  • Oncologists, surgeons, and rad-oncologists with deep expertise in bile duct cancer.

  • Access to psychological support for patients and families.

  • Continuously trained medical teams who are aware of the latest medical developments.

💡 What We’re Asking From You

We’re asking for your support in three key ways:
1️⃣ Wear Something Green – Encourage staff, students, and colleagues to wear green on February 20, 2025. It can be a jumper, scarf, tie, or even a small accessory like a badge or ribbon.
2️⃣ Light Your Building, Office, Campus, or Landmark Green – Many buildings already have LED lighting systems that can change colors easily. Make a statement and join landmarks across Ireland.
3️⃣ Share the Message Online – Use social media to show your support. Post a photo of your green outfit, your lit-up landmark, or your workplace coming together for the cause. Use hashtags:
#WorldCCAday and #LightIrelandGreenForCCA

📲 How to Engage

1️⃣ Take Photos or Videos – Share pictures of your building, campus, or workplace lit up green or your team wearing green clothes.
2️⃣ Post on Social Media – Use the hashtags #LightIrelandGreenForCCA and #WorldCCAday. Tag your workplace, council, or organization to amplify the message.
3️⃣ Tag Influential Stakeholders – Mention local councillors, TDs, and public figures in your social media posts. The more attention we get, the bigger our impact.

📚 Resources We Can Provide

We can provide:

  • Pre-designed social media graphics and templates for your posts.

  • Tips on how to light your building green (it’s easier than you think!).

  • Guidance on how to engage your community, schools, and organizations to wear green on the day.

🔗 Suggested Social Media Hashtags

When you post your photos, use these hashtags to maximize visibility:

  • #LightIrelandGreenForCCA

  • #WorldCCAday

  • #GreenforCCA

  • #AMMF

  • #Cholangiocarcinoma

  • #BileDuctCancer

  • #CancerAwareness

  • #CholangiocarcinomaAwareness

  • #SupportCancerResearch

  • #RareCancer

📣 Why It Matters

Wearing green might seem like a small action, but it represents solidarity, awareness, and hope. It shows patients that they are not forgotten. It reminds policymakers that Ireland needs to raise its standard of cancer care. And it tells the world that we stand together in the fight against CCA.

When you wear green on February 20, 2025, you:

  • Show your support for patients, survivors, and families.

  • Advocate for better cancer services in Ireland.

  • Create a powerful visual message that sparks conversations.

📅 Key Date to Remember

🗓️ February 20, 2025 – Mark it on your calendar and encourage others to do the same.

📩 Contact Us

If you’d like more information, need help lighting a building, or want support with social media content, please contact info@cholangiocarcinomaireland.ie www.cholangiocarcinomaireland or facebook.com/cholangiocarcinomaireland , We are happy to help.

💚 Join us on February 20, 2025, for #WorldCCAday and help #LightIrelandGreenForCCA. Whether you light a landmark, wear a green jumper, or post on social media, your support creates a wave of awareness that could change lives. Together, we are stronger.