Anthony James Baron was the guy that everyone who knew him are glad that they did. He grew up in Simi Valley, California where he attended Royal High School and played first base for the varsity baseball team. After school ended he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served for ten years as an air traffic controller. After his discharge he continued in this field for the Federal Aviation Administration.
He was a father, husband, and friend to so many of us throughout his life. And all those of us who knew him surely miss so many things about him. His heart and compassion had the ability to affect so many people, and he loved so much to make the lives of others better. To all those who knew him, Tony was a guy who would always put others before himself, and never want to be recognized for it. He cared like no else, and did so sincerely. His friends and family (friends being almost everyone he ever met) meant the world to him.
On May 21, 2003 my dad lost his battle with the autoimmune disease known as lupus. In the span of nine months he went from being an extremely healthy 40 year old to being a case study for this often overlooked disease. It started with the symptoms arthritis and sensitivity to sunlight, then attacked his kidneys, liver, heart, and blood. He died after his body could no longer sustain the attacks that his own immune system was inflicting.
In May it will be 5 years since his passing and I am doing something to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for this disease. I am going to be participating in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic on July 12, 2008. I am going to complete the 202.25 mile ride in one day and have a goal of raising $2,500 to be donated to the Lupus Foundation of America. Any support that you give, I cannot thank you enough for. Whether its a monetary donation or a simple good luck, I appreciate all of your support in trying to find a cure for lupus. So please, do what you can, let me know you stopped by, donate, or just spread awareness by telling those you know about the disease.
Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support-- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Did you know?:
Approximately 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus.
More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.
More people have lupus than cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis combined.
The average age of the lupus patient is between 15 and 45 years old.
Only 50% of lupus patients lived 4 years after diagnosis in the 1950s. Currently between 80 and 90 percent of lupus patients survivor 10 years after diagnosis.
Lupus deaths have increased 61 percent since 1980.
No new treatment for lupus has been approved for the US in 40 years.
About 5 percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
Approximately 70% of lupus cases are systemic. In about 50% of these cases, a major organ will be affected.
20% of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.
About 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
Several studies reveal that the annual average cost to provide medical treatment for a person with lupus ranges between $6,000 and $10,000. For some people with lupus, however, medical costs may exceed several thousand dollars every month.
Two of three lupus patients reported a complete or partial loss of their income because they are unable to work due to complications of lupus.
One in three have been temporarily disabled by the disease, and one in four currently receive disability payments.
While lupus is a widespread disease, awareness of the disease lags behind many other illnesses.
In a nationwide poll of 1,000 adults conducted for the Lupus Foundation of America, 38% said they are somewhat or very familiar with lupus, while 39% have only heard of the name of the disease and 22% have never heard of lupus.
In an another survey, only four of ten young adults ages 18-24 claimed to be aware of lupus, even though the disease often strikes during the childbearing years.
While 65% of respondents to this survey claimed awareness of lupus, only 20% could offer accurate basic information about the disease.