Established by the Champions Charity, Cauda Equina (CES) Awareness Day has been held annually since its inception in 2020.
We have enjoyed lots of support from patients, their partners, families and friends, which has helped make Cauda Equina Awareness Day the amazingly, successful annual event it is today.
Why did we create Cauda Equina Awareness Day?
It is our mission to raise the profile of Cauda Equina Syndrome everywhere.
Cauda Equina Awareness Day was founded by Cauda Equina Champions Charity in 2020 and is held annually on October 1st.
The awareness day was created to shine a much-needed spotlight on Cauda Equina Syndrome, a serious spinal condition that requires urgent recognition, emergency assessment and timely treatment.
Each year, Cauda Equina Awareness Day brings patients, families, healthcare professionals, supporters and organisations together to raise awareness of the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome and the life-changing impact it can have.
Founded and led by Cauda Equina Champions Charity, the campaign reflects our ongoing commitment to education, advocacy and better outcomes for people affected by CES. Through awareness-raising, professional education, patient stories and community action, we aim to improve understanding of Cauda Equina Syndrome and help more people recognise when urgent medical help may be needed.
Every year on October 1st, we invite individuals, workplaces, healthcare settings, community groups and partner organisations to join us in sharing information, starting conversations and helping make Cauda Equina Syndrome impossible to ignore.
What happens on Cauda Equina Awareness Day?
All sorts! In previous years we have hosted webinars, fundraising events, and media campaigns to raise awareness of Cauda Equina Syndrome and those affected by it.
In 2020 we hosted an online festival with over 450 attendees, including contributions from patients and leading medical experts. In 2021 we organised an epic fundraising event called “Walking for CES” where we raised over £5,000 and collectively took over 40,000,000 steps
This year, we are marking the sixth anniversary of Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) Awareness Day.
Our 2026 Campaign
The campaign will highlight key messages to help raise awareness, improve understanding and encourage people to recognise the importance of urgent action when Cauda Equina Syndrome symptoms appear.
More information will follow soon, including campaign resources, ways to get involved and guidance on how you can help us spread the message.
Keep checking this page and follow Cauda Equina Champions Charity on social media for updates.
How can I Support Cauda Equina Awareness?
If you would like to be involved or have an idea you would like to share to help promote Cauda Equina Awareness Day, please get in touch to let us know.
If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you will see our awareness campaigns so please give these a like and share them with your network.
We need your support and help to reach everybody in the CES community. Cauda Equina Awareness Day is the most important day of the year for us to do this.
As well as sharing on social media with your friends and family, you can make a donation to support people affected by Cauda Equina Syndrome. Every single penny you donate goes directly to support patients. Visit our donation page to make a contribution
Cauda Equina Awareness Day 2025 – A Global First for Cauda Equina Syndrome
16th October 2025 marked a historic moment for the Cauda Equina community. For the very first time, Cauda Equina Champions Charity collaborated with World Spine Day to establish an international awareness day dedicated to Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES).
This powerful collaboration placed CES on the global stage, shining a spotlight on a condition that is still too often missed or misunderstood. At the heart of the campaign was one vital goal, raising awareness of the red flag symptoms so that more people can be diagnosed quickly and receive urgent treatment when it matters most.
Addressing the Psychological Impact of CES
As part of the day’s activities, the Cauda Equina Champions Charity team travelled to London to deliver a specialist taster seminar at the Royal College of Nursing for healthcare professionals.
The session explored the psychological impact of living with Cauda Equina Syndrome which is an often overlooked but life-changing aspect of the condition. Healthcare professionals were introduced to the emotional and mental health challenges many people with CES face, and why psychological understanding is essential for long-term care and recovery.
This seminar marked an important stepping stone toward the charity’s upcoming CPD- accredited training course for healthcare professionals, titled:
“The Psychological Impact of Living with Cauda Equina Syndrome”
This in-depth course will expand on the themes introduced in the taster session and is scheduled to launch in April 2026, giving professionals the knowledge and confidence to better support patients living with the long-term effects of CES.
Champions Charity run a funded psychology therapy service dedicated to CES patients after injury and is a pioneering service in the UK.
Spreading the Word Worldwide
In the lead-up to Awareness Day, we ran a social media countdown campaign to build excitement and remind our community that this ground breaking international CES awareness day was approaching. Supporters helped us spread the word, shared key information about symptoms, and amplified the message that early recognition can be life changing and can make the difference between lifelong disability or a full recovery for patients.
The campaign also highlighted the award-winning CaudaEquina App, available on both Apple and Android, offering accessible information to help people better understand CES and recognise the warning signs.
Expanding Cauda Equina Awareness Internationally
Our Founder, Claire, also travelled to Hanover to meet with Professor Walter Bini to explore how we can grow CES awareness on a global scale. These conversations opened the door to exciting opportunities for future collaboration, research, and international education around Cauda Equina Syndrome.
A Landmark Year – And Just the Beginning
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) Awareness Day 2025 was more than a moment. It was a global call to action. From professional education to public awareness and international collaboration, this milestone year represents meaningful progress toward faster diagnosis, better support, and improved lives for people affected by Cauda Equina Syndrome.
We are incredibly proud to have led the first international awareness day for CES and this is only the beginning.
Together, we will keep raising awareness, improving understanding, and driving change.
