Launched in 2018 as a 100% virtual event, The Rare Fair was the original virtual event for the international rare disease community, seeking to connect rare disease patients, families, and other stakeholders across the globe.

Frustrated by the lack of access to rare disease events for patients and families, rare disease patient and mom, Eden Lord, created The Rare Fair to bring resources to patients right where they are. “In our first year, we had an attendee who had logged on from her hospital bed, asking a presenter for advice on how she could adovcate for herself in real-time,” said Lord. “Bringing resources to people where they are and when they need them has always been our goal. Introducing a new type of event virtually helped us do just that.”

The Rare Fair is presented annually by The Dash Alliance but in 2023, will be co-hosted with Rare Revolution Magazine as a hybrid event both online and on-ground in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.