Bells will be ringing on the steps of St. John’s City Hall Sunday morning to mark the 14th anniversary of the first international Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day.
FASD is a term that describes a range of disabilities associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol.
The St. John’s FASD committee said in a news release today people all around the world will gather Sunday for events to raise awareness about the importance for mothers to abstain from alcohol during the nine months of pregnancy.
Residents of St. John’s and surrounding areas are invited to bring a bell and join the committee to share in a minute of reflection on the steps of city hall, on the ninth day of the ninth month, beginning at 9:09 a.m.
The committee says the bell idea is used, as “there is a purity about bells that reminds us of the innocence of children. As well, bells are historically associated with warnings, alarms, marking important moments, and simply pealing for the joy of connecting with the community. FASD Day is all of these things.”
A free pancake breakfast will immediately follow the bell concordance at Choices for Youth, Carter’s Hill Place.
The St. John’s Regional FASD Committee is a group of individuals who have come together due to a shared interest. Some members have worked with people affected by FASD, while others are caring for children affected by the disorder.
The Committee believes that awareness efforts will assist in the prevention of FASD, as well as increase support and functioning for those affected by it.
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