Join Us for the 3rd Annual Walk Strong to CureJM DC!
EVENT DATE: September 21, 2019
WHERE: Rio Washingtonian Center, 209 Boardwalk Place Gaithersburg, MD 20878
We will have an amazing and fun walk and family fun event!
9AM - check-in (same day registration available)
10AM - Noon- Walk and festivities
Callaghan was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis on July 9, 2018. His young life was turned upside down. Sadly, his disease was misdiagnosed for years after he began to exhibit symptoms. In the past 7 months, he has had more than 330 doses of oral steroids, weekly chemo injections and monthly infusions of more steroids and healthy immune cells – all to try to help him gain strength and regain his health. Due to his disease and the medications, he has also developed lipodystrophy , insulin resistance, and pre-glaucoma. However, with support from CureJM and a network of doctors and specialists devoted to his care and the care of others with this disease, we are hopeful that Callaghan will continue to get stronger and that new treatment options will be discovered to lessen side effects and enhance his quality of life.
Juvenile Myositis (JM) is extremely rare. And it's life-threatening. The disease causes a child's own immune system to attack healthy tissue and cells. It can cause pain, weakness, inability to walk, disfigurement, organ failure and can even lead to death. And there is no cure…YET. But that's where you come in.
Like most rare diseases, Juvenile Myositis research funding comes almost entirely from grassroots efforts like this one. We simply must move faster and in more areas of research than we ever have before. All gifts go straight to Cure JM Foundation and will support crucial programs, including:
· Funding research at 20 major institutions
· Supporting drug discovery and development so children will have more and better treatments
· Investing in the identification and understanding of the genes that contribute to JM
· Growing a network of fifteen U.S. chapters focused on expanding research and exceptional JM clinical care at children’s medical centers around the country
· Identifying and supporting the “best and the brightest” of the next generation of doctors and researchers entering the JM field
And whatever level of support you can consider, please know that we will put it to work at the earliest possible moment to find better treatments. One reason that Cure JM is a top-rated charity is because over 90% of each gift goes directly to research and programs. Cure JM has been a “Top Rated” nonprofit by Great Nonprofits each year since 2011 and received the Independent Charities “Best in America” Seal of Excellence. This seal is given to less than 1% of over 1 million nonprofits in the United States. This seal is an honor and only awarded to charities that meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.
We are forever grateful for you and your support. It means so much to us.
- Shannon, Scott, Nolan and Callaghan
