World Heart Day 2025

Every 29 September our hearts beat a little bit faster! Why? Because World Heart Day, organised globally by the World Heart Federation, is one of the most important days in the Societi calendar!

This annual global campaign, centred on the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat”, urges individuals, communities and decision‑makers to take action for healthier hearts. If you know Societi, you’ll know that action is at the heart of what we do – to improve outcomes for children affected by Kawasaki Disease!!

Societi Foundation proudly stands beside the World Heart Federation’s call to action, spotlighting Kawasaki Disease, the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the Western world. On World Heart Day 2025, we’ll be amplifying the urgent message that early recognition and treatment protect children’s hearts from lasting damage.

In the countdown to 29 September, we’re preparing to release our Societi World Heart Day statement, drawing attention to Kawasaki Disease, its rising incidence, the critical need for timely diagnosis, and the importance of consistent long‑term care across the UK.

Our mission remains unchanged: to support healthcare professionals and families alike to recognise Kawasaki Disease quickly and to ensure every affected child affected by Kawasaki Disease has the best chance of a good recovery.

We don’t want to ‘Miss a Beat’, so please, join us in raising awareness of Kawasaki Disease this World Heart Day!

NEW CLINICAL GUIDELINE IN THE MAKING FOR ALL UK CHILDREN AFFECTED BY KAWASAKI DISEASE

On World Heart Day, Societi, the UK Foundation for Kawasaki Disease, announces a major national project to protect children’s hearts.

Societi, the UK Foundation for Kawasaki Disease, has launched an ambitious, initiative to create a national clinical guideline for the acute diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease. This expert-led guideline will be designed to ensure that every child across the UK can receive the very best possible care, wherever they live. The guideline is being developed in accordance with Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) methods, procedures, and policies, that will enable formal endorsement by the College once complete.

KEY MESSAGES

This World Heart Day, Societi Foundation is leading a national project to create the UK’s first clinical guideline for the acute care of Kawasaki Disease. This is a game-changing step to end the postcode lottery of diagnosis and treatment and to protect children’s hearts across the UK.
Kawasaki Disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the UK.
Lifelong, life-threatening heart damage results in a quarter of all affected children, rising to 39% in babies under 1. (1)
Low awareness means Kawasaki Disease is often missed or misdiagnosed, putting children’s hearts at risk of avoidable, permanent damage.
Cases are rising worldwide, making it vital that all health professionals can diagnose and treat Kawasaki Disease quickly.

In the year ahead there will be up to 2,000 hospital admissions of children in the UK facing Kawasaki Disease, which is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in UK children. Worryingly, for such a serious disease, many doctors remain unfamiliar with it.

Families often face what has been described as a “postcode lottery” in diagnosis and treatment, with clinical knowledge and care varying widely. We know too, that for doctors encountering the disease for the first time, it can feel like being in the “wilderness without a map.” Confusion and lack of awareness around Kawasaki Disease in GP surgeries and hospitals alike can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment, directly increasing the risk of lifelong heart damage for affected children.

This new national guideline will help change that.

Why it matters

It is anticipated that the national guideline will be published in 2026, and will:

End the postcode lottery of care by providing one expert standard for all UK hospitals.
Ensure every child receives the best available treatment as quickly as possible.
Save doctors’ time, replacing a patchwork of local guidelines with one authoritative, evidence-based standard.
Support families with clear, up-to-date information and follow-on care tailored to their child’s needs.

“Kawasaki Disease is a medical emergency and decisions in the acute phase need to be made quickly and accurately,” said Rachael McCormack, Founder of Societi Foundation. “On World Heart Day, we’re proud to highlight this crucial work. This national guideline will give doctors the expert map they need and will help protect children’s hearts across the UK from this very serious disease.”

Professor Paul Brogan, of Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Chair of the Guideline Development Group, added: “This is an important opportunity to transform the way Kawasaki Disease is recognised and treated. By bringing together expertise from across the UK, we can create an updated, robust, evidence-based guideline that ensures every child receives the highest standard of care, no matter where they live.”

A game-changing project

Societi has convened a Guideline Development Group (GDG) of more than 20 leading clinicians and researchers, supported by over 100 stakeholders from paediatrics, cardiology, infectious disease, rheumatology and other key specialties across the UK. The group is co-chaired by Professor Paul Brogan (Great Ormond Street Hospital) and Rachael McCormack, Societi’s founder, with leadership from Professor Rob Tulloh and Professor Mike Danson, all Trustees of Societi.

The project is already well under way with all members of the group driving forward a detailed review of the latest evidence and guiding the development of the guideline to ensure that every recommendation is tested and challenged to the highest standards.

How you can help

Societi Foundation is a small charity leading this major national effort. Public support is crucial to ensure the guideline is completed and implemented.

Donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/societi

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR FULL WORLD HEART MEDIA RELEASE HERE!

Get Involved this World Heart Day!

We need you to help us raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease! Whether you take on the Societi Virtual 10k, host a bake sale, or organise a Wear Red Day at school or work, every action helps protect tiny hearts. Join us, take part, and make some noise for Kawasaki Disease this World Heart Day because we can’t afford to miss a beat.

The Societi Virtual 10K – MOVE TO YOUR OWN BEAT!

Don’t miss a beat this World Heart Day! The Societi Virtual 10K is back and we want you to move to your own beat to raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease, the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children.

Whether you walk, run, dance, scoot, or take the dog—however you choose to move, do it your way, in your time, and help protect children’s hearts.

Here’s how to take part:

Entry is just £25 via the Societi online shop and includes a gorgeous Societi medal!
Sign up anytime in August or September. The final day to register is 29 September – World Heart Day!
Complete your 10K your way – however, wherever and whenever – by 31 October.
Submit your evidence with a Strava screenshot or a selfie in your Societi gear (optional). You do this via a pribate message on our social media platform or at info@societi.co.uk
Feeling extra? Start a JustGiving fundraising page to get friends and family involved and raise even more awareness of Kawasaki Disease!

Let’s move together for children’s heart health. Join the Societi Virtual 10K and MOVE TO YOUR OWN BEAT!

Don’t Miss a Beat… Don’t Miss a Bake!

What better way to get involved than with a bake sale to raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease and help protect children’s hearts?

It’s a brilliant excuse (not that we need one…) to enjoy some cake with friends, family, or colleagues – all while supporting a seriously important cause.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Choose your event, location, and pick your date, whether it’s at home, school, work, or your local community centre!
Let us know your plans! Email info@societi.co.uk or contact us here and we’ll support you however we can.
Bake cake. Sell cake. Eat cake. Simple!

Every slice sold helps us raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease and protects children’s hearts.

DON’T MISS A BEAT! DON’T MISS A WEAR RED DAY!

Why not hold a WEAR RED day at work – or at your child’s school or nursery? Make a statement in RED to help fundraise and get Kawasaki Disease known!

JOIN US – it’s EASY to get involved! Just like 1, 2, 3!

CHOOSE your event and pick a date that works!
Get in touch with Societi HQ at info@societi.co.uk or contact us here and let us know your plans – we’ll help where we can!
Enjoy the day wearing red and raising awareness of Kawasaki Disease!

And you’re set to go, to protect children’s hearts!!

World Heart Day – 29 September 2025