Together in Purple: Awareness, Advocacy and the Future of ITP Care
The latest edition of The Count is now available, bringing together the stories, research, advocacy and community initiatives shaping the future of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This Spring issue celebrates ITP Awareness Week 2026 and highlights the power of patient voices, global collaboration and community action.
Inside this issue, you’ll discover:
- ITP Awareness Week 2026 and how you can get involved through fundraising, #LightUp4ITP, I Sport Purple 4 ITP Day, awareness merchandise and community events.
- Global highlights from EHA 2026, ISTH 2026 and the HOW Collaborative Meeting, including Danielle Boyle’s leadership of the standing-room-only ITP symposium and the growing focus on quality of life, fatigue and patient-centred care.
- An important look at New Zealand’s Rare Disease Strategy, the challenges that remain and why advocacy continues to be essential for improving treatment access and clinical trial opportunities.
- "Rare Isn’t Always Rare", exploring how patients and clinicians interpret medical risk differently and why understanding the language of risk matters.
- More Than Just a Conference, showcasing why the 2027 ITP Patient Conference in Brisbane could be a life-changing experience for patients and families.
- A thoughtful mental health feature,"I’m Sorry, I Can’t Make It", exploring the hidden guilt many people experience when chronic illness forces them to cancel plans.
- Updates on the new ITPANZ website and Support Hub, designed to provide easier access to trusted information, practical tools, podcasts, videos and educational resources.
- The latest from the Beyond the Count Podcast, now recognised as one of the world’s leading ITP podcasts, featuring expert interviews and stories from the global ITP community.
Whether you’re living with ITP, supporting a loved one, working in healthcare or simply wanting to learn more, this issue delivers practical insights, global perspectives and inspiring stories from across the ITP community.