All seats for the dinner have been sold out. Mark your calendars for next year's auction to be held on October 23, 2009.
We are still accepting donation items for the auction. If you are interested in donating, please contact us at deb_austin@comcast.net.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Living with Friedreich's Ataxia
Keeping Kids Healthy is a program that airs on public television. They recently produced an episode about kids living with FA. You can watch it, in its entirety, here.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Kristi Gorenson to emcee Up, Up and Away auction
Kristi Gorenson started her journalism career in 1992. After receiving a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications from Washington State University, Kristi went to work as an anchor and reporter for KLEW TV in Lewiston, Idaho. In 1994 she moved on to the Tri Cities in eastern Washington as the news anchor for the 5 and 11pm newscasts at KEPR TV. Kristi came to the Inland Northwest in 1997 as an anchor-reporter for KREM TV, and has been involved in the region's news community ever since. Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband and two young girls, training for triathlons, gardening and camping.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
2008 Spokane Friedreich's Ataxia Fundraiser
Event: Auction and Buffet Dinner
Location: St. Augustine's Catholic Church -- Family Hall
Date: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 PM; doors will open 6:00 PM
Cost: $25 per person, $175 per table of 8 (Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Debbie at deb_austin@comcast.net for purchase information.)
Event Highlights
KeyNote Speaker
Anthony J. Santiago, MD - Director
The Edward Ewell Parkinson's Disease
and Movement Disorders Center
______________________________________________
Event Contact:
Debbie Austin
Phone: 509-443-7165
Email: deb_austin@comcast.net
Please note:
All donations are due by October 10, 2008
Thank You!
Would you like to help by volunteering at the event? Contact Debbie at deb_austin@comcast.net
Location: St. Augustine's Catholic Church -- Family Hall
Date: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 9:30 PM; doors will open 6:00 PM
Cost: $25 per person, $175 per table of 8 (Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Debbie at deb_austin@comcast.net for purchase information.)
Event Highlights
- Ticket includes buffet dinner. There will be no-host wine and beer available.
- Balloon Pop!!!
- Silent Auction
- Live Auction
- Dessert Auction
KeyNote Speaker
Anthony J. Santiago, MD - Director
The Edward Ewell Parkinson's Disease
and Movement Disorders Center
______________________________________________
Event Contact:
Debbie Austin
Phone: 509-443-7165
Email: deb_austin@comcast.net
Please note:
All donations are due by October 10, 2008
Thank You!
Would you like to help by volunteering at the event? Contact Debbie at deb_austin@comcast.net
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Dear Friends:
Five years ago, at the age of 21, our daughter, Jessica, was diagnosed with a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder named Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA). FRDA is a life-shortening, genetic disorder, which afflicts about one in 50,000 people. Surprisingly, about 1 in 90 Americans of European ancestry carry one affected gene. Symptoms include impairment of vision, hearing, and speech; scoliosis (curvature of the spine); diabetes; a serious heart condition; and loss of strength and coordination in the legs and arms.
The onset of symptoms is usually in childhood (before the age of 15) and most patients need a wheelchair full-time by their 20's. Although Jessica was diagnosed at an older age, this relentless disorder has now robbed Jessica of her ability to walk across a room without the help of someone, a walker, or a wheelchair. She can no longer enjoy many independent activities which most people in their teens and 20's enjoy. Sadly, there are NO treatments or cures.
Words cannot describe the devastation we feel, but we are working hard to find solution. The FRDA gene was found in 1996 by a team led by Dr. Massimo Pandolfo. That discovery has revolutionized the study of FRDA, leading to an extraordinarily rapid explosion of findings relevant to the disorder. There is real HOPE AND EXCITEMENT in the FRDA SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.
Due to the relatively small population affected by this disease, however, funding through the traditional sources has been limited. Therefore, we decided to redirect our anguish towards efforts to accelerate research, and are working toward raising funds for the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). The scientific projects FARA is nurturing right now, including clinical trials over the coming year, look so promising that there is a real possibility the results will lead to effective treatments.
Our grassroots fundraiser is an auction. The UP, UP AND AWAY WITH FA AUCTION, will be held on October 24, 2008. All of the funds raised will go directly to FARA. We hope you will share our concern and will help. Because FARA is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, your contribution is fully tax-deductable. If you already support various charities, we ask that you consider adding one more to your list:
Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). You may email us at deb_austin@comcast.net for more information and our address at which to make a direct donation.
Part of our mission is to raise the level of awareness of Friedreich's Ataxia, so please share this with those who might be sensitive to our plight. Although heartbroken by this disease, we are cautiously optimistic about the direction of research. With your help, we hope and pray that the research you support will hasten a breakthrough that will not only help Jessica, but all patients and their families coping with this rare, relentless disease.
Thank you for caring,
Dick and Debbie Austin
The onset of symptoms is usually in childhood (before the age of 15) and most patients need a wheelchair full-time by their 20's. Although Jessica was diagnosed at an older age, this relentless disorder has now robbed Jessica of her ability to walk across a room without the help of someone, a walker, or a wheelchair. She can no longer enjoy many independent activities which most people in their teens and 20's enjoy. Sadly, there are NO treatments or cures.
Words cannot describe the devastation we feel, but we are working hard to find solution. The FRDA gene was found in 1996 by a team led by Dr. Massimo Pandolfo. That discovery has revolutionized the study of FRDA, leading to an extraordinarily rapid explosion of findings relevant to the disorder. There is real HOPE AND EXCITEMENT in the FRDA SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.
Due to the relatively small population affected by this disease, however, funding through the traditional sources has been limited. Therefore, we decided to redirect our anguish towards efforts to accelerate research, and are working toward raising funds for the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). The scientific projects FARA is nurturing right now, including clinical trials over the coming year, look so promising that there is a real possibility the results will lead to effective treatments.
Our grassroots fundraiser is an auction. The UP, UP AND AWAY WITH FA AUCTION, will be held on October 24, 2008. All of the funds raised will go directly to FARA. We hope you will share our concern and will help. Because FARA is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization, your contribution is fully tax-deductable. If you already support various charities, we ask that you consider adding one more to your list:
Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). You may email us at deb_austin@comcast.net for more information and our address at which to make a direct donation.
Part of our mission is to raise the level of awareness of Friedreich's Ataxia, so please share this with those who might be sensitive to our plight. Although heartbroken by this disease, we are cautiously optimistic about the direction of research. With your help, we hope and pray that the research you support will hasten a breakthrough that will not only help Jessica, but all patients and their families coping with this rare, relentless disease.
Thank you for caring,
Dick and Debbie Austin
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