Intl Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Day

The Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency community invites people from around the world to participate in celebrating International PK Deficiency Day, December 1,  2023. Our goal is to raise awareness of the needs and experiences of people living with PK deficiency, their carers, and family members.


We are pleased to announce the collaboration of Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Foundation and Thrive with Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Organization, two nonprofits dedicated to serving patients and families living with PK deficiency, as they plan the second International PKD conference for the summer of 2024. Stay tuned for more details!

Help spread the word about International PK Deficiency Awareness Day by downloading one of the social media covers for your accounts or by customizing your profile with the International PKD Awareness frame. Spread the message with the hashtages #IntlPKDDay2023, #PKDConference2024, #BridgingLives4PKD.

Just simply e-mail us your headshot at info@thrivewithpkd.org and we’ll send you a customized frame! 



The original ribbon was created in 2015. The ribbon is turquoise with red blood cells and Burr cells in ruby on the overlying ribbon. The words “Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency” are written in script on the underlying ribbon.

The logo for International PK Awareness Day was recreated in 2022, with members of the PKD community providing input on the elements of the designs and voting for their favorite logo.

In the winning design, one sees a tree representing wisdom, growth, stability, life, peace, and abundance. With deeper inspection, a drop of blood in the center of the tree represents the importance of blood in providing life. Incorporating the original colors used in the PKD logo, this logo brings awareness and connectedness to the PK deficiency community.


In 1962, the first peer-reviewed article was published identifying Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency as a hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. 2022 is the 60th year anniversary of the hallmark publication identifying this rare hemolytic anemia that has affected many people around the world for decades. The time has come to recognize the struggles and triumphs of people with PK deficiency and their families along with the advances in treatment, medicine, and technology that allow us to connect.