Media statement

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day

Members of the media are cordially invited to our celebration of International Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) day on 9 September 2007 at 09:00 at Kenilworth Centre, Doncaster Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town. The purpose and origin of the day is to raise awareness of the dangers of taking/ using alcohol during pregnancy, the implications it may have for the unborn baby and therefore for the whole family.

Please join us on the square inside Kenilworth Centre, if possible at 09:00 when the bell will be rung.

MRC scientist Dr Sandra Marais will be one of the main speakers at the event, where she will explain and expand on statistics and the latest research on FASD in South Africa.

Background information
Information on FASD Day: Every year on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day is observed.  Proclamations are issued in countries, states, provinces, and towns all around the world.  Bells are rung at 9:09 a.m. in every time zone from New Zealand to Alaska.  People all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).  The first FASDay was celebrated on 9/9/99.  This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol.  Anytime is a good time to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

The Birth of FASDay: The Real Story
By Teresa Kellerman August 2005

In October of 1998, Bonnie Buxton and Brian Philcox, parents of FASD children, met with Teresa Kellerman, director of the FAS Community Resource Center and discussed the idea of starting an international organization to raise awareness about fetal alcohol issues around the world.

And that was the beginning of FASworld, which in turn gave birth to FASDAY, an idea that originated with Brian Philcox while he was shoveling snow. Bonnie chose 9/9/99 to remind everyone that a woman can remain alcohol free for all nine months of pregnancy, and chose 9:09 for a moment of silence. The first International FAS Awareness Day was celebrated on 9/9/99 at 9:09 all around the world. Activists in small rural communities and large metropolitan cities eagerly communicate by mail list and share new information and exciting ideas through the web site www.fasday.com.

The FAS Community Resource Center that provides the majority of the information for FASDAY activists has 50,000 people each month visit its web pages that contain a wealth of information on research, prevention, and intervention of fetal alcohol issues. Parents, professionals, teachers and students alike visit the popular web site to educate themselves and to share information with others by downloading the hundreds of articles and handouts available there. The FAS Center web site can be found here: http://fasstar.com/fas

Information from http://fasday.com/BirthFASDay.htm