World Rabies Day: United for a Rabies-Free World
Join our mission this World Rabies Day and raise vital funds and awareness in the fight to end rabies.
About Rabies
Rabies is the world’s deadliest zoonotic disease, causing immense suffering for both humans and dogs. Once its cruel symptoms develop, the disease is always fatal. In many rabies endemic countries, fear of the disease can lead to hostile attitudes towards dogs, ultimately resulting in indiscriminate culling programmes.
Rabies still causes the death of at least 59,000 people a year. The disease disproportionately impacts upon the world’s most disadvantaged areas, with the poorest countries in the world carrying the greatest burden. With 99% of human rabies cases being caused by an infected dog bite, we have the power to change this, by taking a One Health approach we can protect both people and animals from the devastation of rabies.
What is World Rabies Day?
World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on 28th September to raise awareness and advocate for the global elimination of rabies. It is also about highlighting progress in defeating this deadly disease. The date honours - Louis Pasteur - who produced the first anti-rabies vaccine.
This year, at Mission Rabies, we are putting a spotlight on the people behind our mission, the people who work tirelessly around the world to protect communities from rabies.
Mission Rabies: Our Goal
Like you, we think it’s time to put an end to the untold pain and suffering caused by rabies.
Science shows that the most effective way to control rabies is through vaccination of dogs in places where rabies is endemic. We head to rabies hotspots and run mass vaccination campaigns. Our vaccination programmes aim for 70% vaccination rate in rabies hotspots ever year to achieve herd immunity, keeping dogs and people safe. Alongside this we educate children and communities to equip them with the crucial knowledge to protect themselves against the cruelty of rabies. We also establish sustainable surveillance systems in rabies hotspots to ensure the safety of communities by quickly responding to suspected cases.
Get Involved
This World Rabies Day we need your help to create a rabies free world. There are lots of ways you can get involved in our mission.
Running challenge
Strides for rabies elimination
Are you ready to challenge yourself? This World Rabies Day sign up for a running event to raise funds to stop rabies and join team Mission Rabies. Secure a place at a running event of your choice and start fundraising. We may be able to provide you with place at some running events, which include: Supernova Kelpies, Edinburgh Marathon, Run Bournemouth, and many more.
Discover all of our running events and how to apply. These links will take you through to WVS places, but if you contact us about running for Mission Rabies and set up a fundraising page on our JustGiving page then the funds will go directly to Mission Rabies.
Gaming challenge
It’s time to level up against rabies
Gamers, we need you! Fundraise the fun way by organising your very own gaming fundraiser to help stop rabies for good. Join our mission by gaming to help protect both human and animal lives from this deadly disease.
The challenge is to use the figure 9 in your gaming livestream or event, helping to highlight the devasting impact this disease has.
Find out more about this challenge and how to get involved.
Skydive
Leaping into the sky for rabies
We have partnered with Go Skydive for an adrenaline pumping fundraising challenge! Reach new heights with this fundraising challenge! If a skydive is something that you have always wanted to do, then why not sign up to fundraise to protect communities from the world’s deadliest disease.
Pawfect Tea Party
Sweetening the fight against rabies
This is a brilliant way to get together with loved ones or colleagues and enjoy a few sweet treats while raising awareness and funds to end the suffering rabies causes. We have free resources from tasty recipes to party decorations for you to use. We even have some animal recipes so your furry friends can be included!
Email us at fundraising@missionrabies.com to get involved and receive resources.
Read our frequently asked questions on fundraising for more support. Email us at fundraising@missionrabies.com if you have any questions or would like any support.
Other ways to get involved
Our work simply couldn’t happen without our amazing supporters, any way you can get involved will contribute to creating a rabies-free world.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with our projects, volunteering opportunities, and other ways to get involved.
Donate
Make a life-saving donation to ensure more communities can be protected from the world’s deadliest disease.
Volunteer
By volunteering you will be part of something amazing – providing life-saving protection to communities by vaccinating dogs. Volunteers play a pivotal role in our mission to end rabies and we are so thankful for everyone who joins our vaccination campaigns.
Find out more about volunteering
Resources
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