WHEREAS, GM1 Gangliosidosis is a rare, inherited disease that results in neurodegeneration and a progressive loss of abilities until death; leaving children, adolescents, and adults impaired with significant physical and developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, GM1 Gangliosidosis affects 1 in every 100,000 - 200,000 live births; and

WHEREAS, lack of public awareness and visibility of GM1 Gangliosidosis contributes to underdiagnosis and barriers to accessing specialized services and proper rehabilitation and support; and

WHEREAS, early diagnosis of GM1 Gangliosidosis is essential to the timely management of clinical complications, genetic counseling, and access to treatment and therapeutic remedies; and

WHEREAS, the goal is to raise awareness and promote the accurate and timely diagnosis of this rare inherited lysosomal disorder, known as GM1 Gangliosidosis;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize May 23, 2026, as INTERNATIONAL GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS AWARENESS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.