Thanks to celebrities like Jason Alexander (George Costanza) and Barry Sanders (NFL), awareness of Scleroderma has slowly begun to reach mainstream society. Unfortunately, many still don’t know about the disease. It is the 3rd most common auto immune disease ranking only behind Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, and, despite much less publicity, ahead of MS. It is chronic, progressive and centers on the patient’s body’s immune system attacking itself by over-producing collagen and causing hardening of tissues. Scleroderma, which literally means “hard skin”, can be visible - such as thickening / tightening of skin, or invisible - such as serious organ damage of the lungs, heart, kidneys, esophagus and GI tract. Scleroderma is often difficult to diagnose because it mimics other diseases and is not easily categorized because of its complexity and varied affects on people. The disease occurs 4 times more often in women than in men and affects all ages and races.

Of the 300,000 people afflicted with Scleroderma in the US, it is believed that at least 14,000 of them call Missouri home. Many of these likely don't even know their diagnosis yet.

“The Jessica Reif, Steppin’ Out to Cure Scleroderma” is our Missouri Chapter’s lone fundraiser. Thanks to all of our friends, family, and supporters, in 2008, we were able to  contribute $30,000 of the $1 million in research grants awarded to top doctors for Scleroderma Research.  We are proud to have hosted the 2009 National Patient Education Conference in St. Louis this past July and held an Education Program with Dr. Pohlman on "Your Kidneys and Scleroderma," in September. The Scleroderma billboard (on HW70 between St. Louis and Columbia) still stands, to further advance our awareness programs.

For some, Scleroderma is a nuisance. For others, it is a life-threatening disease. Thank you for being a part of our lives and our futures!