Stephanie March And Joel Taggart Are Urging Councils Across South Australia To Join The Global Chain Of Lights Campaign On 28 February 2026
What if your town hall glowing pink, blue, green and purple for one night could make a local family feel seen?
Two South Australian parents are hoping it will.
Yorke Peninsula advocate Stephanie March and Adelaide Hills advocate Joel Taggart are calling on councils across metropolitan, regional and rural South Australia to light up local landmarks for Rare Disease Day 2026 as part of the national Chain of Lights campaign.
Why Lighting Up Matters For Families Living With Rare Disease
Rare Disease Day is held globally each year on 28 February and shines a light on the more than 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease.
For Stephanie March, this is deeply personal. She is a rural parent raising a child with a rare disease and founder of community initiative MERCI Co.
“For many families, rare disease is invisible. It means frequent hospital travel, complex care and living with uncertainty – often quietly and often far from specialist services,” Ms March said.
“Seeing a local town hall, structure or community landmark lit up, even for one night, sends a powerful message that families in that town matter and are supported.”
Joel Taggart, a rare disease and community advocate based in the Adelaide Hills, said councils play an important role in creating visible and inclusive communities.
“Lighting up a local landmark is a simple but meaningful way for councils to show that they stand with families living with rare disease,” Mr Taggart said.
“It creates awareness, encourages conversation and helps reduce the isolation many families experience.”
A Simple Way For South Australian Councils To Show Support
While the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Network is hosting its own Rare Disease Day event, Ms March and Mr Taggart wanted to extend awareness beyond hospital walls and into local communities across South Australia.
As independent parents and advocates, not official coordinators, they have contacted all South Australian councils inviting them to participate in the Global Chain of Lights on Saturday 28 February 2026, or Friday 27 February where operational needs require a weekday event.
Councils are being invited to light a landmark, building or community space in the official Rare Disease Day colours – pink, blue, green and purple.
Participation is flexible and designed to be low-effort, using existing lighting infrastructure where available. Councils are encouraged to register their participating locations with Rare Voices Australia as part of the national and international campaign.
Stephanie March and Joel Taggart are also encouraging councils and community organisations taking part to use the hashtag #SARareCare to help show South Australia’s shared commitment to supporting the rare disease community.
Participation across South Australia is already growing, with previous light-ups generating positive community feedback, including at City of Unley and Adelaide Oval in 2025.
Councils without suitable lighting infrastructure are encouraged to take part by displaying Rare Disease Day posters in libraries and public buildings, or by sharing Rare Disease Day messaging through council communication channels.
Free media and promotional assets – including posters, social media tiles, logos and lighting guidance – are available via the global Rare Disease Day website, rarediseaseday.org.
“We would love to see South Australia’s participation continue to grow in 2026, particularly in regional and rural communities where families often feel most disconnected from specialist care,” Ms March said.
Want to understand why this matters so much to Steph? Read our earlier story on her advocacy here.
