VBF International Day of Awareness2026 · Date · History
The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation currently identifies May 15 as its International Day of Awareness for vascular birthmarks, anomalies and related syndromes. VBF founder material says Dr. Linda launched the Day of Awareness campaign and sought recognition beginning in 2003; a 2004 Congressional Record Extension of Remarks recognized May 15, 2004 as National Vascular Birthmark Foundation Awareness Day. This record is the canonical source row for the single observance.
About VBF International Day of Awareness
The VBF International Day of Awareness is observed on May 15. The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation uses the day to raise awareness of vascular birthmarks, anomalies and related syndromes and to promote acceptance and access to reliable information.
VBF’s current material uses several closely related labels, including VBF Day of Awareness and International Day of Awareness. “Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day” is treated here as an alias for the same May 15 campaign, not a separate observance.
Why VBF International Day of Awareness matters
The campaign focuses on awareness, acceptance, anti-bullying and connecting affected people with appropriate professional information and support. It is not a substitute for individual medical diagnosis or treatment advice.
Participation should respect privacy. People should not be pressured to share photographs, diagnoses or personal medical histories, especially information involving children.
History of VBF International Day of Awareness
VBF founder Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon says she began seeking formal recognition for a May 15 vascular-birthmarks awareness day in 2003 and launched the Day of Awareness campaign.
A March 1, 2004 Congressional Record Extension of Remarks recognized May 15, 2004 as National Vascular Birthmark Foundation Awareness Day. The located federal record is an Extension of Remarks; this guide does not convert it into a standalone enacted federal resolution.
VBF now describes May as its International Month of Awareness and May 15 as the VBF International Day of Awareness, with recurring campaigns such as #PutOnYourBirthmark.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, founder of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation
VBF first-party material says Dr. Linda launched the Day of Awareness campaign and sought recognition beginning in 2003.
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation
The recurring international campaign is organized and stewarded by VBF; the located federal record is recognition rather than proof of federal establishment.
Recognized May 15, 2004 as National Vascular Birthmark Foundation Awareness Day in an Extension of Remarks.
U.S. House of Representatives / Congressional Record statement by Rep. Donald M. Payne · Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks E263
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation
Current VBF pages actively promote May 15 as the Day/International Day of Awareness.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
6 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
VBF Day of Awareness, Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day, VBF International Day of Awareness for Vascular Birthmarks, Anomalies and Syndromes
How to Observe VBF International Day of Awareness
Use VBF educational resources to learn about vascular birthmarks, anomalies and related syndromes.
Support anti-bullying and acceptance efforts without singling out or photographing anyone without consent.
Share an awareness message or VBF resource if you choose, but avoid diagnosing people from appearance or offering treatment instructions.
If medical questions arise, use qualified clinicians and reputable medical sources rather than social-media claims.
VBF International Day of Awareness Facts
The VBF International Day of Awareness is May 15.
The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation is the current organizer/steward of the campaign.
VBF identifies Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon as the person who launched the Day of Awareness campaign.
A 2004 Congressional Record Extension of Remarks recognized May 15, 2004 as National Vascular Birthmark Foundation Awareness Day.
VBF’s current materials also use the names VBF Day of Awareness and International Day of Awareness.
The campaign is educational and advocacy-focused; it does not replace medical evaluation.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
U.S. Government Publishing Office — Congressional Record E263, March 1 2004 (opens in a new tab)
Federal Congressional Record
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation — founder statement on May 15 awareness history (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer History
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation — official awareness page (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
Vascular Birthmarks Foundation — VBF Day of Awareness (opens in a new tab)
Original Organizer
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is VBF International Day of Awareness?
15 May The documented recurrence rule is: 15 May.
Does VBF International Day of Awareness fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is VBF International Day of Awareness an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International / Vascular Birthmarks Foundation-led awareness campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes VBF International Day of Awareness?
The reviewed sources identify Vascular Birthmarks Foundation as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, founder of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Vascular Birthmarks Foundation.
Is VBF International Day of Awareness international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International / Vascular Birthmarks Foundation-led awareness campaign. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is the VBF International Day of Awareness?
It is observed on May 15.
Is Vascular Birthmarks Awareness Day a separate day?
No. VBF’s current material points to one May 15 awareness campaign. This guide treats the alternative name as an alias rather than a separate observance.
Who organizes the day?
The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation is the current organizer and steward.
Who started the campaign?
VBF founder material identifies Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon as the person who launched the Day of Awareness campaign.
Was it established by a federal law?
The independently located federal record is a 2004 Congressional Record Extension of Remarks recognizing May 15, 2004. This review does not treat that record as a standalone enacted federal law or resolution.
Other observances on May 15
These observances are also listed on May 15, 2027.
International Conscientious Objection Day
War Resisters’ International currently uses 15 May for International Conscientious Objection Day. Its historical publications document a long-running May 15 action tradition but contain dif…
International Day of Families
A/RES/47/237
International HG Awareness Day (HGAD)
The HER Foundation’s 2026 campaign page states that May 15 is International HG Awareness Day.
Kangaroo Care Day® / International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
The official Kangaroo Care Day site identifies May 15 as the annual global awareness initiative, founded in 2011, and publishes dedicated 2026 materials for May 15.
National Learn to Swim Day™
Creator-issued Swimways releases state that Swimways founded National Learn to Swim Day™ in 2012 on the third Saturday of May each year; a 2019 Swimways release documents expansion of the p…
Peace Officers Memorial Day
The White House’s 2026 proclamation states that law authorizes 15 May of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day.