Walk Strong to Cure JM Southern California,

About the event

I started donating my money and time to Cure JM about 11 years ago, after learning my friend’s son, Mason, had this terrible disease. 

Juvenile Myositis is a rare disease that causes a child’s own immune system to attack healthy cells and tissues, which can cause pain, weakness, inability to walk, disfigurement, and can be life-threatening. JM can affect virtually any system of the body, the heart, lungs, skin, muscles, and more.  And there is no cure…YET. 

Unfortunately, Mason lost his battle to JM at the age of 10. In his memory, and for all of the other children with JM, I’ve continued to give my time and donate money to Cure JM.  I’ve now met many families and kids with JM and it breaks my heart daily to see all they must endure. My goal is that no other child ever suffer with Juvenile Myositis.

I know this is a long shot – but we have a fundraiser and family fun event on Saturday, Feb. 23, critical to funding our research.   

• Saturday February 23rd, 2019 10:00am - Noon Registration opens at 9:00am
• Griffith Park Pettigrew area of Crystral Springs Picnic Area 4730 Crystal Springs Drive Los Angeles,CA 90027

Being a rare disease, where there are no FDA approved drugs, we don’t get sponsors from the big pharmaceuticals.  In fact, our few sponsors tend to be companies where the families of JM kids work.  We depend on grassroots fundraising to raise money and fund critical JM research.  Cure JM is the only organization focused on JM research.  And, over 90% of revenues go directly to research to help children suffering with Juvenile Myositis.

All donations add up, even $10.  We do have events in New York, Florida, Chicago, D.C. and other locations across the U.S. so if you were interested in other locations or being a sponsor just let me know. 

With endless thanks for your consideration,

Lauren Alvord

*****@****.*** or *****@****.***

916-872-7883

To learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gg67TnrYqM

Why should you sponsor?

Children battling JM need better treatments and a cure. 

Children battling JM often have weekly hospital treatments... for years... many never reach remission.

JM is a rare disease which limits treatment options and makes diagnosis difficult. Progress against these conditions is slow because there aren't enough people participating in studies, and there are even fewer researchers available to run the studies.

This creates challenges: lags in diagnosis, gaps in care, limited choice in treatments.

BUT, I’m here to remind us that challenges birth opportunities.

We are living in times of significant scientific advancement. The field of genetic research alone holds great promise for the lives of people in our community. We need to harness new technology for the benefit of those living with JM.

And that’s where you come in.

Our research support is almost entirely funded by individual donations and generous sponsors for our Walk Strong to Cure JM® family fun events and fundraisers.

Our programs depend on your generosity. Without it, we’ll lose the ability to:

1. Fund research at 20 major institutions
2. Invest in the identification and understanding of the genes that contribute to JM
3. Invest in identifying which patients respond to repurposed drugs, such as Rituximab, and which don't. As some of these drugs take some time before their effect is fully realized predicting a response PRIOR to treatment is a critical endeavor.
4. Steroids tend to be a first-line therapy and have a variety of effects dependent on route of administration and have a variety of undesirable side effects. We are actively funding a program to bring a cutting-edge steroid to our patients that has increased activity and dramatically fewer side effects. Funding this to the clinic to trial in JDM patients has the potential in the very short term to make a dramatic effect in patients’ lives.
5. Identify and support the “best and the brightest” of the next generation of doctors and researchers entering the JM field

I urge everyone reading this to take action. Make sure that we can fund these crucial programs.   YOUR sponsorship can change the life of Children in your community.

Juvenile Myositis (JM), including Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) and Juvenile Polymyositis(JPM), is a group of rare and life-threatening autoimmune diseases, in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. 

Since its inception, Cure JM has invested more money into Juvenile Myositis research and programs than any other charitable organization. 

Cure JM Foundation believes in effectively stewarding every dollar and over 90% of all funds raised since Cure JM’s inception has gone directly to research and educational programs. Cure JM is also proud to have been a “Top Rated” nonprofit by Great Nonprofits each year since 2011. Additionally, in 2015, Cure JM received the Independent Charities “Best in America” Seal of Excellence that is only given to 0.2% of over 1 million nonprofits in the U.S. This seal is awarded on an annual basis to charities that meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.

Learn more at: www.CureJM.Org

Lauren Griffiths Alvord

My name is Lauren Griffiths Alvord.  After working at Intel Corporation for 32 years, I retired and started supporting Cure JM.  My dear friends lost their son, Mason, at the age of 10 to JM. I now spend all my spare time helping Cure JM set up Walk Strong to Cure JM events across the U.S. so Cure JM can fund necessary research.   It would be an honor to gain your sponsorship for our events - both dollar donations and in-kind.  

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