FANCONI ANEMIA
This September KIA Autosport of Tallahassee is
partnering up with Kidz1stFund!
Kidz1stFund was created in 2011 by Jimbo and Candi Fisher
after their son was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia. They started Kidz1stFund
to educate the community, stimulate awareness, and raise money for Fanconi
anemia research. What is Fanconi Anemia?
Fanconi Anemia (FA) is an inherited anemia; it is primarily a blood disease that affects all systems of the body. Ninety percent of patients develop bone marrow failure, necessitating a stem cell transplant. Even after a patient has received a bone marrow transplant the fight is not over, many complications arise in those who make it into adulthood. Cancer is one of the most common diseases associated with FA, eighteen to twenty percent of patients develop acute myelogenous leukemia.
FA is primarily a recessive disorder: if both parents carry a defect in the same FA gene, each of their children has a twenty-five percent chance of inheriting the defective gene. Though it is not a well-known disease it is estimated that about 1 in 131,000 babies in the United States will be born with FA, approximately 31 babies a year. Fifteen years ago the survival rate was at merely thirty percent; however with the help of scientist and those working to find a cure the survival rate is now an incredible eighty percent.
Why is it important to help?
“Discovering treatments, uncovering secrets and discovering a cure all require research—and research takes money. New treatments are in the process of being developed and breakthroughs are close in sight, at such a pivotal point in the research process all efforts are needed to help find a cure and improve the lives of those with Fanconi anemia.” –Kids1stFund
How can you help?
Our mission is to find effective treatments and a cure for Fanconi anemia and to provide education and support services to affected families worldwide.
As their mission statements illuminates there are many ways to help the fight Fanconi Anemia. The obvious way to help is by donating towards FA. Any amount can make a huge difference; that is why throughout the month of September KIA Autosport we will be collecting donations. At the end of the month Melanie Lee will be matching the total amount raised. However, donating money is not the only way to get involved, you can help by simply creating awareness of FA. Educating others and spreading the word about Fanconi anemia is contributing to the cause because awareness stimulates action. Another way to help is by donating bone marrow. As stated almost everyone affected by FA will need to receive a bone marrow transplant, unfortunately not everyone has a suitable donor. By joining the Nation Marrow Donor Registry you can determine if you a match to one of the thousands of people who are looking for help. Visit Be The Match at www.marrow.org to find out how you can help.
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