Advertisement

April Giving Highlight – Casey's Cause

In honor of National Volunteer Month, this month we will be dedicating our Giving Highlight to Casey’s Cause. We continue to find it amazing what friends and loved ones can do when they come together to honor the love and life of a child they’ve lost.

Casey’s Cause was incorporated in March 2007 by a group of family and friends of Casey Marie Grant, a seven-year old girl who was diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a rare blood platelet disorder. Nine days after being diagnosed, Casey passed away on January 25, 2007 from a massive hemorrhage.

Jason and Christine Grant have a passion for promoting the awareness of ITP. “When Jason and I left the hospital we were determined to do something, anything in order to help others affected by ITP.  We did not want anyone else to have to walk in our shoes and believed that by spreading the word about ITP we could make a difference.” Says Christine.

Supporting the research efforts of the Platelet Disorder Support Association who work with doctors and patients assessing lifestyle changes as a result of symptoms and treatments of ITP,  Casey’s Cause also supports the ITP Foundation whose research efforts are based worldwide and start at the cellular level.  In addition, they have teamed up with the Charley Foundation to support a weekend camp for children affected by ITP and their families.  Other funds are utilized to assist families, local or elsewhere, with the needs of their chronically ill children.

5 out of 100,000 children are diagnosed with the most common age group being 2-5 years old, 20% of those children will have ITP long term or chronic. Treatment is either to suppress the immune system which decreases platelet destruction or to improve platelet production. ITP is difficult because there is no specific treatment plan, while it may not be a life threatening disorder it is absolutely life altering for everyone involved.

The 3rd Annual Casey’s Cause 10k, 5k and Fun Run will be held Saturday, April 24th, at 8:00am, benefiting Camp Charley – a weekend camp for kids with ITP and their families.

For more information or to Register for this years race – you can do so online until April 22nd.

If you would like to make a donation or would like more information regarding Casey’s Cause, ITP, or to find out how you can help or volunteer with this special organization, visit their site at Caseyscause.org

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *