Rare Disease Day

Went to photograph a reception at the Scottish Parliament this evening to mark Rare Disease Day. this is Alex Neil MSP Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being laughing at his own joke about the independence vote to wind up the event host Malcolm Chisholm MSP.
There are estimated to be more than 6000 rare diseases in the UK, affecting 3.5 million people in the UK at some point in their lives. In Europe a 'rare' disease is defined as affecting fewer than 5 in 10,000 of the general population. Among the speakers was a woman who founded a charity as a support group for the 30 people in Scotland (including her) that have the rare disease PNH.