2.28.2010

Raise your Hand

If you read our blog, you know someone with a rare disease.  Sadly, chances are Batten, and Celia, aren't the only names that come to mind.  One in ten people nationwide have a rare disease.  That's likely three of your old second grade classmates, two of your former little league teammates, a few members of your graduating class, a couple of your colleagues, several of your fellow church congregants, someone in your family.  That means these diseases are, as Celia's G'Ro says, "not rare enough."
Today is World Rare Disease Day, sponsored by NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders.  If you'll take a moment to follow the link and click on "Raise Your Hand" on the right sidebar of the Rare Disease Day homepage, Lundbeck Inc.* will donate one dollar to NORD's general research fund. 
Rare diseases get little notice.  Some organizations rely on celebrities to put fame behind their cause, but most rare disorders remain unheard of by many Americans.  Drug companies don't have financial incentive to develop medications to treat them.  For those afflicted, a simple diagnosis can take years, and there are often very few experts to turn to, scant treatment options, and no one near who understands what they're going through.  By following the link above, you can help fund research, drive policy and develop educational programs that could make a difference for some of the 30 million Americans (75% of whom are children) affected by one of 7,000 rare diseases.  

Children like Celia can't raise their hands.  Will you raise yours for them?
Thank you.
JEB
Statistics from NORD's website.  Visit to find out more.
Photo by Amy Parrish
*Lundbeck Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in Deerfield, Illinois, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients affected by rare diseases for which few, if any, effective treatments are available. Since November 2008, the company has brought three products to market for the treatment of rare diseases for which there are currently no other U.S. FDA–approved therapies.

7 comments:

rht said...

Glad to raise my hand -- just wish I had the answer. Now to go put on my jeans...

Poppy John said...

Hey, don't tell anyone...BUT...
by using my various email accounts,
I "raised my hand" several times!
L2A4
P.S. After what happened last night, may we please have a moment of silence for Grandma Sandy's reputation.

Adam and Vicky said...

Wearing jeans and raising hands!

Melissa said...

done, and shared on facebook. hope we rack up a nice little load of cash.

Debi said...

Thanks for posting this. I just raised my hand, put on my jeans, prayed for a cure for Batten and for Celia and your family. I also shared the link on facebook.
I was wondering with Poppy John if we could raise both hands and feet by clicking more than once!
Love and hugs and prayers,
Debi

Carol O'Rourke said...

I "raised my hand!" Since I've been wearing jeans all day, I guess I'll just have to go put on a clean pair.

I read you blog every day and I just wish I had your facility with words so that I could adequately express my admiration for both of you (and your families)in regard to the situation in which you find yourselves and for the way you are handling it all.

Unknown said...

I'm mom to one with a rare syndrome. Not quite a disease but still so very misunderstood. Prader Willi Syndrome, I seldom meet anyone who has ever heard of it.

Raising my hand and always wearing jeans!