Volunteers Across the Country Will Hold 50 Fundraising Events in the Next Two Months for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Online, August 26, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Volunteers Across the Country Will Hold 50 Fundraising Events in the Next Two Months for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy to Raise Funds for Research, Support and Hope.

All across the United States volunteers will come together to raise funds for critical SMA research and patient support programs. These events range from the FSMA signature Walk-n-Roll, to golf outings and fun comedy nights. Over 10,000 people will attend across the nation. Together we hope to raise $1 Million in this short time. Funds raised will be used to support the leading research programs directed by Families of SMA to develop a treatment and cure for SMA, along with support programs for families and critical patient care.

Make a difference and join in. Your efforts will help bring us closer to a treatment and make a profound difference in your local community and to the families everywhere affected by SMA.

It is quick and simple to participate. You can raise funds on your own, or join or lead a team. If you do not have a local event, please consider organizing one. FSMA has support available and many tools and materials to help make your event a success.

Families of SMA Programs:
With your support we have funded over $50 million dollars so far directly for SMA research, including 5 new therapeutic development programs specifically for SMA: The FSMA Stem Cell program; The FSMA Quinazoline program; The FSMA Paratek Tetracycline program; and then more recently, the ISIS Oligos program, and the OSU Gene Therapy program. We have also funded 5 clinical trials with existing drugs that have potential for SMA, and the entire Project Cure clinical trial network. Our research funding model is based on relying on independent research and medical experts to evaluate and recommend which specific projects are the best to fund.

Families of SMA is a broad organization and we are involved in great programs in many areas. In addition to research, Families of SMA funds critical family support and patient care programs. These include sending information and care packages to all affected families. Families of SMA has also been hosting the Annual SMA Conference for over 22 years, which is the largest conference in the world for those affected by SMA. We are proud to offer an amazing support program for all newly diagnosed SMA families to attend our Annual SMA Conference.

Don't See an Event in Your Area?
Families of SMA's research and family support programs are funded through the grassroots fundraising efforts of our SMA families across the country. It truly is because of all our families that we are able to fund all of these projects and make progress. FSMA has support available and many tools and materials to help make your event a success. Some examples are banners, yard signs, flyers, donation cards, bracelets and much more.

If you are interested in organizing a fundraiser for FSMA or would like to learn more about the tools and information available, please contact us at (800) 886-1762 or [email protected].