Want to Help Light-Up for CVS Awareness?:

Help request landmarks around the world will light up for International CVS Awareness Day by requesting a local building, bridge, or monument to light up. More locations than ever are requiring a local resident to make the request, so your action is essential. If you have questions on how to fill our request forms or want to share confirmations, please reach out to cvsa@cvsaonline.org!

We currently are looking for a local individual or volunteer in City of Wichita, KS USA to help request a light up City Hall. Please reach out to us if you qualify!

In 2026, we prepared for International CVS Awareness Day on March 5th, by sharing a design and vote for your favorite official 2026 Awareness T-shirt contest with our community. Each design submitted reflected the creativity and dedication of those who support patients and families living with cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Get your own 2026 International CVS Awareness Day T-Shirt Here: https://www.bonfire.com/cvsa2026teethebattle/

International CVS Awareness Representation:

With the launch of the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association’s (CVSA) podcast called “Episodes” late last year, there was no better platform to push for awareness and show international representation of CVS. Episode 5 kicked of International Awareness in February, where CVSA president Blynda Killian talked with Robin Dover of CVSA UK about how their own lived experiences with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) turned personal pain into motivation to make a change. Episode 6 was a special Podcasthon episode share the story behind CVSA and how a small group of families searching for answers helped build a global network supporting patients, caregivers, and medical professionals. This episode was featured and shared upon the Podcasthon directories helping feature and push CVS awareness in communities unfamiliar with CVS as a condition. Episode 7, closed out March with Blynda and Nina Hellebakken Hagen, CVSA Nordic Leader and Norwegian contact, about the often unseen mental health toll of living with CVS. View the video recordings on YouTube or with the embedded widgets above or check out the full podcast on your favorite podcast platforms!

Awareness Day Hope:

Pictures of the Peace Bridge and Niagara Falls were shared by Anthony D. and his partner Jewel M. from Buffalo, N.Y (shown below).

Anthony reached out and shared a little of Jewel’s CVS story and talked about how on “the morning of CVS Awareness day, she woke up feeling prodrome symptoms and took her first dose (of abortive medications) to ward off March’s regularly scheduled episode – and for the third month in a row, it worked.” This particular photo (with Jewel) is a bit of a victory lap and a celebration – you’re looking at somebody who just months ago”…” would have been directly in the grips of an episode, on her way to the ER if not already there. Instead, we were able to brave the rain and the cold and stand at the edge of Niagara Falls to take this photograph.

Want to Help Light-Up for CVS Awareness?:

Help request landmarks around the world will light up for International CVS Awareness Day by requesting a local building, bridge, or monument to light up. More locations than ever are requiring a local resident to make the request, so your action is essential. If you have questions on how to fill our request forms or want to share confirmations, please reach out to cvsa@cvsaonline.org!

Over the course of the month, in honor of 10 Years of International CVS Awareness Days, Blynda Killian at the CVSA US/Canada talked with many medical professionals and with other representatives at sister organizations like CVSA UK and CVSA Nordic. Check out the CVSA YouTube page for complete videos or snippets of some of the interviews that was shared during the event!

Check out the CVSA “International Awareness Day 2025” playlist!

Over the course of a few weeks CVSA shared updates on what buildings, bridges, landmarks, and monuments that lit up in support of spreading awareness and recognition of cyclic vomiting syndrome. In addition to these posts, CVSA shared videos of conversations with patients and families about experiences with CVS. You can see these videos and more with other volunteers from previous years by visiting the CVSA YouTube page!

Check out the CVSA “Stories of Hope” playlist!

International CVS Awareness Day is a community-driven movement to increase public recognition of CVS and impact change regarding access to diagnosis and treatment for those impacted by cyclic vomiting syndrome. This is a once-a-year opportunity that we, as a community, can use our voices, individual stories, and experiences to reduce stigma associated with CVS, increase the recognition of and impact the understanding of cyclic vomiting syndrome. 

We encourage everyone, including individuals, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, clinicians, policy makers, industry representatives and the public to consider ways that they can light up awareness and help drive change for those impacted by cyclic vomiting syndrome. 

March 5^th is CVS Awareness Day and the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, and its volunteers, having been working to #LightUpCVSAwareness by getting iconic landmarks, buildings, bridges and locations across the US and Canada to light up blue in honor of CVS awareness day. Having these beacons of light provides a platform and opportunity that we can all use to participate in increasing awareness of cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Here are some of the locations lighting up: 

• Gilbert Water Tower (AZ) – 3/5/2023
• Pfister Hotel (WI) – 3/5/2023
• Skydance Bridge (OK) – 3/5/2023
• The Wheel at Icon Park (FL) – 3/6/2023
• Zakim Bridge (MA) – 3/5/2023
• Longfellow Bridge (MA) – 3/5/2023
• Fore River Bridge (MA) – 3/5/2023
• Burns Bridge (MA) – 3/5/2023
• The “M” (CA) – 3/5/2023
• I-35W Bridge (MN) – 3/5/2023 *(from 1/2 hour before Sunset to 1/2 hour after Sunrise)
• Capella Tower (MN) – 3/5/2023
• The Spires on Main Street Square (SD) – 3/5/2023
• Retirement Systems of Alabama Buildings in Mobile and Montgomery (AL) – 3/5/2023
• Ziggurat (FL) – 3/5/2023
• Baltimore City Hall Dome (MD) – 3/4/2023 & 3/5/2023
• Clock Faces in Lewiston, Maine Tower (ME) – 3/5/2023
• Niagara Falls (NY and Canada) – 3/5/2023 *10:00pm (EST) for 15min
• Peace Bridge (NY & Ontario, Canada) – 3/5/2023 *The lights will come on at dusk and remain on until 1:00 AM (EST)
• Calgary Tower (Calgary Alberta, Canada) – 3/5/2023
• Montreal Tower in Parc Olympique (Quebec, Canada) – 3/5/2023
• Edmonton Bridge (Canada) – 3/5/2023

If you are going to any of these locations in-person, please follow the local guidelines and regulations. For more updates and additional locations check: https://givebutter.com/CVSAwarenessDay-2023

Here are a few confirmed light ups in the United Kingdom:

• Gateshead Millennium Bridge
• Chester: Town Hall, Newgate Arch, & Eastgate clock. 
• Ellesmere Port library and a building in Winsford. 
• York City Walls 
• Clacton Pier
• Wainhouse Tower- Halifax

For the most current information on what is lighting up in the UK please visit the CVSA UK Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CVSAUK

We encourage everyone to consider ways that they can #LightUpCVSAwareness 

Here are some ways that you may consider participating:

• Share pictures and information about CVS, during this event, on social media. Tag CVSA and use the Hashtag #LightupCVSAwareness on social media. 
• Wear Blue (Ribbons, Shirts, Masks, etc.) 
• Dye your hair blue.
• Submit “Light Up” requests for buildings, bridges, and other places near you and share approvals with CVSA.
• Host a local meet-up 
• Start a fundraiser: https://givebutter.com/CVSAwarenessDay-2023
• Take pamphlets or brochures to doctors and ER waiting rooms: https://www.cvsaonline.org/for-patients/new-patients/
• Present information to classes or medical groups. 
• Volunteer for groups that are raising awareness and education for CVS. 
• Donate to groups raising awareness and education for CVS.
• “Light Up” your home with blue lights
• Get and wear an International CVS Awareness Day Shirt here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/cyclic-vomiting-syndrome-association/ (*Order before February 10th to get them by March 5th)
• Check out https://www.cvsaonline.org/cvs-international-awareness-day/ to see other ways that people are spreading awareness.

Light up social media:

Share photos of locations lighting up, share your experiences and stories on social media platforms and share how CVS impacts you. Use hashtags #LightUpCVSAwareness and #CVSAwareness

Thank You:

The Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association (CVSA) would like to extend a very energetic thank you to all the monuments, bridges, buildings, and locations that have agreed to light up on March 5^th in recognition of International CVS Awareness Day. CVSA would also like to express our gratitude to all volunteers and individuals that worked on the outreach requesting and setting up light-ups.

Special Thanks To:

• Gilbert Az : Marcus Corporation : Public Works Public Information :  ICON Park : MassDOT : Metro Statewide Lighting :  the Niagara Falls Illumination Board : Shorenstein Realty Services, L.P. : Buffalo & Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority :  Main Street Square : Retirement Systems of Alabama : JLL, Ziggurat: Calgary Tower Lighting : Lewiston City Hall : Parc Olympique : Pfister Hotel : City of Oklahoma : Baltimore City Hall : Moreno Valley “M” : Minnesota Dept of Trans : Peace Bridge : and many more!

Other places that lit up blue to support CVS Awareness Day:

• Zakim Bridge (MA)
• Longfellow Bridge (MA)
• Fore River Bridge (MA)
• Burns Bridge (MA)
• Gilbert Water Tower (AZ)
• SkyDance Bridge (OK)
• High Level Bridge (Edmonton, Canada)
• Capella Tower (MN)
• Mayo Clinic (MN)
• Target Field (Minnesota Twins) (MN)

Light-Ups in the UK Provided by CVSA UK:

• Gateshead Milennium Bridge (Gateshead, UK)
• Eastgate Tower (Chester, UK)
• St. David’s Cathedral (Haverfordwest, UK)

Here are some ways that people have participated:

• Lighting up their houses blue
• Sharing the event on social media channels
• Wearing International Awareness Day Shirts from the CVSA bonfire store. 
• Submitting requests for buildings, bridges, and other places near them and sharing approvals with CVSA.
• Suggesting places that CVSA could request light up, and share them with CVSA
• Wear blue
• Wear a blue ribbon
• Dye your hair blue
• Host a local meet-up or fundraiser with social distancing precautions
• Take pamphlets or brochures to doctors and ER waiting rooms
• Present information to classes or medical groups
• Volunteer for groups that are raising awareness and education for CVS
• Donate to groups raising awareness and education for CVS

Some of these can be done year-round!

Don’t forget that the best way to share awareness of CVS is to share your story.

Social media has helped bring more recognition to all kinds of issues and conditions. We would like to encourage you to share your story. There are many ways and platforms for you to do that. You can share your story on social media. Consider creating a Facebook Fundraiser benefiting the work that CVSA does, share your story on it, and ask your friends and family to share. CVSA also has a “Share Your Story” page where you can share your CVS journey in words, pictures, and videos; you can update it at any time. It is a user-friendly interface where templates have already been set up, you just need to fill in your story and update it as you please. Then share it with your family and friends via email or social media.

Visit: https://givebutter.com/share-your-story to get started.

Whatever you choose to do, and whenever you choose to do it, we want to hear about it. Send us an email (cvsa@cvsaonline.org) or share what you do on social media. Don’t forget to tag CVSA and use the hashtag #CVSAwareness.

In 2021, CVSA encouraged everyone to use our #oneword printable to share their own word to describe CVS. Afterward they printed it and wrote their one word and submitted photos directly to or tagged CVSA. If you feel like sharing yours on social media, tag CVSA so we can share it on our page as well. Find the #oneword printable here.