Huddersfield Station will be lit up blue for Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day

Huddersfield railway station will turn blue tonight (Friday 17 May) to mark Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Day.

Train operator TransPennine Express will light up the station’s windows between 7pm and 11pm.

The event is to raise awareness of genetic disorders that cause tumors to form on nervous tissue. These tumors can develop anywhere in the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Station manager Angie Hunte said: “We are really proud to be able to support such an important cause. We didn’t know much about NF until we decided to attend the event, so it’s already made a new person aware!

“TPE colleagues will be around to hand out cookies, leaflets about NF and chat with anyone who comes to see the station’s windows lit up in blue.”

There are three neuro-genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerve endings, Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), NF2-associated Schwannomatosis (NF2) and Schwannomatosis (SWN) – 50% of all cases are inherited from a parent and 50% are cases de novo.

TransPennine Express conductor Kristina Novakovic, who lives with schwannomatosis, said: “I am very grateful that TPE has raised awareness of a cause that I have first-hand experience of.

“For me, schwannomatosis presents as chronic and often acute pain and often various other symptoms associated with transient nerves. My tumors grow from nerve roots and I have had two major spinal tumor excisions.

“I am fortunate to be supported in my work by TPE, which allows me to continue in my role as a conductor.”

Markus Bell, Marketing and Operations Manager at Nerve Tumors UK, said: “Shine A Light 2024 marks the eighth year that Nerve Tumors UK has joined forces with the Children’s Tumor Foundation in the US to raise awareness of NF.

“Over 500 landmarks and iconic buildings will be lighting up blue, around the world, in solidarity with the NF community and we’d like to thank TransPennine Express and Huddersfield Station for taking part so enthusiastically.”