The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) is launching Educate to Elevate, a multi-year initiative to raise public awareness, educate communities, and improve healthcare access for individuals with bleeding disorders.
The campaign features celebrity advocates including Melora Hardin, Amy Jo Johnson, Jonathan Frakes, Jason Ritter, and Greg Grunberg, alongside medical experts and people living with bleeding disorders, amplifying the experiences and challenges faced by people who live with these disorders every day.
Why This Matters
Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease are caused by an inability for a person’s blood to clot properly, leading to prolonged bleeding after injury, spontaneous bleeding into joints, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The CDC estimates that approximately 30,000-33,000 males are affected by hemophilia, but that statistic does not include women, many of whom experience bleeding symptoms as well. Von Willebrand disease, the most common bleeding disorder, affects up to one percent of the population regardless of sex.
The challenges facing the bleeding disorders community are diverse, from delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialized care, to the need for more research and better public understanding. Many people, particularly women and girls, experience years of symptoms before receiving proper diagnosis and treatment.
“Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease are serious, and, particularly when they affect women and girls, are often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed,” said Philip M. Gattone, M.Ed., President and CEO of NBDF. “By elevating the voices of those who live with these disorders, the campaign hopes to improve understanding so these individuals can get the care and support they need.”
Celebrity-Driven Videos and Digital Engagement
The campaign launched with a series of short videos, spotlighting themes such as difficulty obtaining an accurate diagnosis, finding support, and the importance of community-centered research. The videos will feature celebrities sharing personal messages as well as people living with bleeding disorders discussing their experiences. While the initial video series highlights challenges facing women and girls with bleeding disorders, future content will delve into caregiver experiences, youth and young adult perspectives, access to healthcare, advancements in research, and other topics affecting the entire community.
A series of podcasts, hosted by Greg Grunberg, will launch in the spring of 2026, featuring members of the bleeding disorders community and offering the opportunity for meaningful discussion around important topics.
“I know how difficult it can be to live with a rare disease that isn’t understood by the general public or even healthcare providers,” said Greg Grunberg. “These are ordinary people who are often dealing with extraordinary challenges, and I’m proud to lend a hand to make their voices and experiences heard.”
Get Involved
There are many ways you can support Educate to Elevate and help raise awareness.
- Watch the videos: Visit Educate to Elevate on bleeding.org to watch all campaign videos and learn more about the experiences of people living with bleeding disorders.
- Spread the word: Follow NBDF on social media and share the videos with your network:
- Instagram: @NBDF
- Facebook: @NationalBleedingDisordersFoundation
- YouTube: @NBDFvideo
- Use the hashtag #EducatetoElevate
- Donate: You can help grow the campaign by donating at: elevate.bleeding.org. Together, we can elevate understanding and ensure everyone with a bleeding disorder gets the care and support they deserve.
NBDF’s Educate to Elevate partners, Sanofi, Kedrion BioPharma, and Genentech, a member of the Roche group, provided support for this initiative.
