At age 2, Megan McKeever developed a bright rash across her face, over her elbows and knees. We all thought it was just an allergic reaction … an easy fix, find the culprit and remove contact with it. But within a few weeks, her condition deteriorated. Megan started to have trouble standing up and climbing the stairs and became increasingly weak until she could barely move. This was not an allergic reaction and the search for an answer began. Several doctors were mystified by her condition until one finally recognized what she saw: Juvenile Myositis (JM), a potentially debilitating and life-threatening rare, orphan autoimmune disease … one with no cure.
That was 10 years ago. Today Megan, our granddaughter/niece, is in seventh grade, doing well in school and taking three dance classes a week; however, she is not cured or even in remission. Megan, and thousands of other children like her, still battle JM with daily medications, frequent IV treatments and physical therapy to try keep the disease under control. While some children will experience a remission, others will suffer the destructive effects of JM their entire lives. While she has been fortunate to have the ability and strength to keep fighting, others have lost their battles to the ravages of this illness.
The Cure JM Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, is trying to find a cure. Through the generous donations of people like you, Cure JM has raised nearly $4 million dollars in recent years to help establish two medical research centers with leading JM experts, published the first reference book on the disease, and funded several studies into the origins and long-term effects of JM. These programs gives thousands of JM children and their families hope for a disease-free future; a life without daily shots, pills and treatments to keep their own immune system from attacking its own healthy cells and tissues.
Please support Cure JM Foundation's participation in the Baltimore Under Armor Running Festival that will take place during the weekend of October 13, 2012. A team of runners and volunteers – which includes members of the McKeever and Doria families – will be participating in these activities to help raise awareness and funds for finding a cure. Funds raised from support of this event will fund research grants and other JM programs.
As an all-volunteer foundation, nearly 100% of your donation goes toward helping to prevent another child from suffering with this disease. On behalf of all children and their families afflicted with JM, thank you for your generous support!!
The Foundation’s aspirational goal is to never, ever let another child suffer with Juvenile Myositis. With your help, this goal may be well within reach some day.
Please consider DONATING today! No amount is too small, every dollar we raise gets us one step closer to our goal!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also mail your donation to:
Cure JM Foundation
836 Lynwood Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
Corporate matching forms can be faxed to:
(760) 230-2243