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Submit a photo to enter the EURORDIS Photo Award 2020!

November 2019

The EURORDIS Photo Award is one of the 14 Black Pearl Awards that recognise the stars of the rare disease community, as nominated by the rare disease community and members of the public.

Whether you are an amateur photographer or took that one great photo that illustrates the challenges or joy of living with a rare disease, you can submit your photo by 16 January to be in with a chance of winning the EURORDIS Photo Award 2020!

The Photo Award is an opportunity to visually express what it means to live with a rare disease and to share your story with the rare disease community and beyond. It is open to all nationalities, ages and rare diseases. Prizes will be awarded to the winning photographer and two runners up.

Last year hundreds of people from more than 30 different countries submitted a photo, each reflecting the stories of people living with a rare disease around the world.

Deniz, winner of the EURORDİS Photo Award 2019, said, “I teach disabled children in Turkey. Every child is special and I love my job. Pictured in my photo ‘Deep’ is my student Derin, a rare flower, and her mother, who adores her daughter. I was so happy to win the EURORDIS Photo Award as it helped me to raise awareness of cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome, the condition Derin is living with. The picture illustrates how every child learns, sometimes at different paces and sometimes in different ways.”

National Geographic photographer Marcus Bleasdale will shortlist five finalist photos that will be open to an online public vote via blackpearl.eurordis.org in February. The winning photo will be announced live at the EURORDIS Black Pearl Awards Ceremony on 18 February in Brussels, at which the other awardees will also be presented with their awards. The Ceremony will also be live streamed via blackpearl.eurordis.org.

Marcus Bleasdale said, “There are a few moments I look forward to every year and one of my favourites is being asked again to be the judge of the EURORDIS Photo Award. The real, honest, painful, fun and uplifting moments captured by families in their journey are so important for me to see. It is a true pleasure to be involved. As a National Geographic photographer, I look to capture the unheard moments in my photos, the ones that tell a story that we would otherwise not see. When I draw up the shortlist of photos for the EURORDIS Photo Award public vote, I look for photos that tell a story of the reality and also the joy of what it means to live with a rare disease.”

>>> Get inspired! See previous winners and previous entries to the EURORDIS Photo Award!

>>> Enter the EURORDIS Photo Award!


Eva Bearryman, Communications Manager, EURORDIS