April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, a time to come together to raise awareness of this complex, often misunderstood disease and support those it impacts. Throughout the month, the community unites to share stories, educate the public, and drive progress in research, care, and access to treatment.
In 2026, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) invites everyone to See Sarcoidosis, a theme that highlights the many unseen ways the disease affects each person. To bring this idea to life, the campaign incorporates a kaleidoscope visual—symbolizing the complex, ever-changing nature of sarcoidosis. Just as a kaleidoscope reveals shifting patterns depending on how you look at it, sarcoidosis presents differently in every individual, affecting multiple organs, symptoms, and life experiences in ways that are not always immediately visible. This lens reflects the challenge patients and providers face in recognizing and understanding the disease, while reinforcing the need to look more closely, from multiple perspectives, to truly see sarcoidosis.
This four-week initiative designed to build awareness, elevate community voices, and drive meaningful action. Each week introduces a distinct theme that guides audiences from understanding the disease to engaging in the movement for progress.
Week 1, “See Sarcoidosis – Make It Visible,” focuses on raising awareness through education and storytelling, helping the public better understand the realities of living with sarcoidosis.
Week 2, “See Sarcoidosis – Spotlight Our Strength,” highlights the resilience of the community and the power of connection, emphasizing that patients, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates are stronger together.
Week 3, “See Sarcoidosis – Look Deeper,” calls for increased attention to research, earlier diagnosis, and improved patient–clinician communication, while encouraging participation in registries and clinical trials.
Week 4, “See Sarcoidosis – Looking Forward: The Future is Bright,” focuses on sustaining momentum beyond April and advancing progress toward better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Together, these themes underscore the importance of continued awareness, collaboration, and action to improve outcomes for all those affected by sarcoidosis.
By deepening understanding, elevating patient voices, and encouraging earlier recognition, we can build compassion, accelerate progress, and move closer to a future where every person with sarcoidosis is seen, understood, and effectively treated.
How to Participate in Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Share Your Story
The best way for someone to learn about sarcoidosis is to learn about your experiences. Share your story and guide people to FSR to learn more about how they can support research and our educational programming.
Fundraise
To raise awareness and unite the community during April’s Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, FSR will be hosting a month-long virtual awareness and fundraising challenge! Join us to make a difference!
Attend Events
FSR has put together a variety of educational, wellness, and social engagement programs this month. Connect with other members in the sarcoidosis community, learn from experts, and engage with FSR.
Take Steps to See Sarcoidosis
Awareness and Fundraising Challenge
Join FSR's Take Steps to See Sarcoidosis Awareness and Fundraising Challenge! Join us in raising $75,000 to support efforts in accelerating research and patient programming this year! Create a Sarcoidosis Awareness Month fundraising team and invite your friends and family to join you in raising awareness and fundraising throughout the month.
Make a Gift
If we can raise $25,000 by April 30th, FSR will be able to continue investing in the groundbreaking research and patient support efforts this year. FSR is making great strides, but we know our work is far from over.
Make a donation during Awareness month, as a token of our gratitude, FSR will give an exclusive FSR holograph suncatcher decal to put in your window to anyone who donates $50 or more now through April 30th!
#PostInPurple Social Media Challenge
Join the FSR community and #PostInPurple to show support for sarcoidosis awareness! Share a photos on social media during the month of April with the color purple, the internationally-recognized color for sarcoidosis, to show solidarity for those impacted by this disease. Make sure to tag @stopsarcoidosis and use #PostInPurple, #SarcoidosisAwareness, and #SeeSarcoidosis!
Awareness Events
FSR has a full schedule of events coming up, and plenty of opportunities for learning, connecting and joining with others to raise awareness of sarcoidosis!
Virtual Events:
- All month: Sarcoidosis Awareness Fundraising Challenge
- April 3: Nutrition Recommendations for Living with Sarcoidosis
- April 13: World Sarc Day
- April 17: Evidence Based Strategies for Pain Relief
- April 20-22: Ask the Sarcoidosis Expert on Inspire
- April 23: Sarcoidosis 101
- April 27: Mind-Body Approaches for Sarcoidosis: A Mindfulness Workshop
- April 30: FSR Grantee Webinar
In-person Events:
- April 11: Corewell East Bowling Event Strike out - Sarcoidosis Independence, OH
- April 11: Women’s Health Awareness Conference in Durham, NC
- April 12: FSR-VCU Health Sarcoidosis Awareness Meet-Up
- University of Kentucky Walk With a Doc at The Arboretum (multiple dates)\
- May 2nd: WashU Medicine and FSR Sarcoidosis Education Session
FSR Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance (FSR-GSCA) Community Group Events
- March 26: FSR GSCA Sarc Community Group of Philadelphia at the Jane & Leonard Korman Respiratory Institute/Jefferson Health, Click Here to register
- March 30: FSR GSCA Community Group of Manhattan at HSS. Click here to register
- April 7: FSR GSCA Community Group of Greater St. Louis at Washington University. Click here to register
- April 14: FSR GSCA Community Group of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota. Click here to register.
- April 15: FSR GSCA Sarc Community Group of Eastern MA at Lahey. Click here to register
- April 15: FSR GSCA Community Group of Cleveland Clinic, OH. Click here to register
- April 16: National Virtual Support Group. Click here to register
- April 21: FSR GSCA Sarc Community Group of Oklahoma City at OU Health Science Cente. Click here to register
- April 23: FSR GSCA Sarc Community Group of the Emory Clinic. Click here to register
- April 29; FSR GSCA Community Group of Southeast Michigan at Corewell Health East. Click here to register
Click here to register for a Community Group event near you.
Sarcoidosis Awareness Toolkits
Our social media kit contains graphics and language to share during the month of April to help raise awareness for sarcoidosis!
Add our Sarcoidosis Awareness profile frame to your social media account pictures to help spread awareness for sarcoidosis all month long!
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research: Action Alert
Ask your U.S. House Representative to Join the Bipartisan Sarcoidosis Caucus - click here.
Download our Sarcoidosis Advocacy and Policy Toolkit and make your voice heard in your community!
Learn About Sarcoidosis
What is Sarcoidosis? Learn about the symptoms and access the resources.
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- FSR On-Demand Educational Resources. Educational brochures, disability and insurance info, recorded conferences and webinars, and more!
- Find a Clinical Trial: FSR encourages patients to participate in clinical trials, research surveys, and academic studies to help us advance towards a cure.
- Sarcoidosis Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines. Find the latest guidelines from global sarcoidosis experts and share with your clinicians.
- FSR created a New Patient Roadmap for those newly diagnosed with sarcoidosis. Click here to view and download the flyer.
- Ignore No More: FSR is committed to raising awareness about how sarcoidosis impacts African American women at the highest prevalence and severity. Click here to read our White Paper on Clinical Trials Diversity: Advancing Clinical Trial Equity for Black Patients with Sarcoidosis.
- FSR's ACTe Now! (Advance Clinical Trials for Equity in Sarcoidosis) Campaign convenes patients, clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders to engage in an initiative to address racial health disparities by increasing representation of Black sarcoidosis patients in clinical trials.
- Newly Diagnosed? Have you been recently diagnosed with sarcoidosis? We're here with key resources and support to guide you.
- Talking to Your Doctor About Sarcoidosis: Open communication with your healthcare provider is essential for effectively managing sarcoidosis. Click here to read tips and access MUSC's Sarcoidosis Health Plan Toolkit.
- Champions for Change - Paid Time Off Initiative: Coalition to Transform Clinical Trial Engagement launched the Champions for Change - PTO Initiative to educate employers and industry-based associations on the necessity and benefits of supporting clinical trial participation among their workforces. Through this initiative, CCTE recognizes employers providing paid time off for their employees to participate in clinical trials, therefore expanding their access to treatment options.
Find Support and Assistance
- FSR Global Sarcoidosis Clinic Alliance (FSR-GSCA): Member program consisting of clinics, hospitals, individual providers, patients, and caregivers committed to finding a cure and offering evidence-based, patient-centric care for those living with sarcoidosis.
- FSR Patient Navigator Program: FSR's Patient Navigator Program provides one-on-one support for those newly diagnosed with sarcoidosis, in the diagnosis process, experiencing their first flare, and/or experiencing a new organ manifestation.
- FSR Sarcoidosis Support Group: FSR has launched an online peer-led support group for individuals who have been living with sarcoidosis for more than six months.
- Provider Directory: FSR is pleased to offer the new Provider Database that can help you find a provider with experience and/or interest in treating people with sarcoidosis. Click here to look for a provider near you.
- FSR Videos: View webinar and live event recordings on our YouTube channel or on the FSR website in our new Video Library!
- Financial Assistance: On our financial resources page, FSR has pulled together a list of Patient Assistance Programs that provide financial assistance for drugs included on FSR’s SAB-approved list of treatment options for sarcoidosis. Visit the FSR website to view a list of assistance medication programs and access our Prescription Assistance Card.
- Inspire Online Community: FSR is proud to partner with Inspire on the online Stop Sarcoidosis Support Community to provide a much-needed space for those living with sarcoidosis to come together and share experiences. Connect with over 70,000 other sarcoidosis patients and caregivers.
- FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast: FSR sarcoidosis advocate, John Carlin, produces a podcast specifically for individuals whose lives are impacted by sarcoidosis. He discusses the big topics that affect sarcoidosis patients and their loved ones from the basics of the disease, lifestyle changes, treatment options, research progress, and most importantly: the voices of those affected by this disease. Listen here.
- FMLA for Clinical Trials Participation: FSR received a letter of clarification from the DOL that ensures employee access to FMLA benefits when participating in clinical trials. This groundbreaking clarification extends job-protected leave to eligible clinical trial participants and their family members, benefiting over 60 million employees nationwide. Learn more here.
