FA Family Newsletter - Fanconi Anemia Research Fund

Kids from FA Families Pitch in to Raise MoneyTo Support ResearchChildren from families affected by Fanconi anemiaare proving that fundraising isn’t just for adults. At theFA Family Meeting in June, Kevin McQueen, FA parentand Fanconi Anemia Research Fund board member, andBev Mayhew, the Fund’s Executive Director, handed outawards to “Kids Helping Kids,” in recognition of somehighly committed junior fundraisers. Here are somehighlights of the work kids did to help raise funds forFA research:• Benjamin Morrison held his second Chess Tournamentin honor of FA Day.• Spencer Boggs sold hand cut-outs at school and pitchedin to help make his family’s Fun Day for FA a big success.• Devin Fales participated in Kicks for FA, a karateexhibition.• Austin Jaros-Riley helped his family make their firstCosmic Bowl-a-thon an event to remember.• Matt and Alexandra Pearl spearheaded their secondKick FA kickball tournament and, along with SeanMcQueen, participated in the Climb for a Cure event.• Peter Fiaschetti held a penny drive while recoveringfrom his bone marrow transplant last year.Please join the Fund in thanking these inspiringfundraisers.FundraisingPersonal Tragedy Leads to Large Donationothers afflicted with this disease, as well as their families.Hopefully, this contribution will provide monies neededfor research, and provide doctors and scientists withsupport that will allow them to continue to work and todiscover a cure for this illness that has taken far too manyprecious lives already.” He noted that at the time of hisbrother’s death in 1962, his family was told by MaxStrumia, MD, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Philadelphia,that there were only 47 living FA patients in the worldand that Michael Alan, at age 9, was the oldest survivor.Melody Ann and Michael Alan Miller, two siblingswho passed away decades ago from Fanconianemia.Mrs. Gloria J. Miller of Bethlehem, Pa., who lost twochildren to Fanconi anemia many years ago, has turnedher personal tragedy into hope for many others througha very generous gift of $250,000 to the Fanconi AnemiaResearch Fund. Mrs. Miller made this extraordinarycontribution to support research as a tribute to her5-year-old daughter, Melody Ann, whom she lost to FAin 1951, and to her 9-year-old son, Michael Alan, whodied of FA in 1962.According to her son, Jody Miller, “My mother’sfondest and deepest desire is that this gift will help“My mother’s fondest and deepest desireis that this gift will help others afflictedwith this disease, as well as their families.Hopefully, this contribution will providemonies needed for research, and providedoctors and scientists with support thatwill allow them to continue to work and todiscover a cure for this illness that has takenfar too many precious lives already.”“What an amazing, unexpected gift this is,” says LynnFrohnmayer, Fund co-founder and board member, “andhow tragic the familiar circumstances leading to thisincredible generosity. We are humbled and heartened byMrs. Miller’s spectacular philanthropy.”Family Newsletter #50 17