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Please Join Our Team
 and
Say "Happy Birthday" by
Raising Research
Dollars for Friedreich’s Ataxia
MDA
Stride & Ride - Saturday January 27, 2007
“A” Team Captains: Aaron and Allie Kittel
Colorado Mills Mall
14500 W. Colfax Av.
Lakewood, Colorado
You
CAN help us find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia
– FA is a rare, genetic, neuromuscular, life-shortening disease. For most,
progressive loss of muscle strength and control leads to motor incapacitation
and the use of a wheelchair. The mental capabilities of people coping with FA,
however, remain intact. There is currently no known treatment or cure for this
life-threatening disease.
How to Donate --
Please make checks payable to: MDA/Seek
A Miracle
and mail to:
Sue Kittel, 1416 Antero Dr.,
Loveland, CO 80538
*100% of all money raised through MDA/Seek a Miracle will go to
Friedreich’s Ataxia research.
Dear Friends and Family,
Two of our children have a rare neurodegerative
disease: Friedreich’s ataxia. Many of you know Aaron and Allie, and have
witnessed the progression of this relentless degenerative disease. We wish we
didn’t need to write to you today asking for your help. It is heartbreaking to see our children lose their physical health and
mobility. Will you please help us by donating (any amount), or better
still “join our team” and collect a few donations yourself?
This year MDA will designate all
the money our team raises for FA research. By coincidence, "Stride
and Ride" in Denver falls the day between
Aaron’s 30th and Allie’s 15th birthdays. We think it will
be a great birthday present for both of them to see friends and family join
together in this great cause!
Won't you please help our children?
Allie as a freshman in High School is beginning to have difficulty with balance
and endurance. Aaron, who has used
a wheelchair for 11 years, is becoming more physically
disabled as the months roll by. While this all seems very sad, we are NOT
without HOPE that together we CAN make a difference.
Please join us in this fundraising event and if you are inclined we would invite
you to pray with us
for
a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia,
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts - Sue and Joe Kittel -
December 2006
This is how you can
help:
1. Sponsoring
Aaron (in his ride) or Allie (in her walk). Please make checks payable to:
MDA/Seek a Miracle (or)
2. Joining our team and collecting donations from others to fund at
least 5 minutes of research ($325.00 minimum) and, if you like, walking with us
Saturday January 27, 2007. Call to sign up: 970-669-9866 or
Email
Sue
We
are entering an exciting era of Friedreich’s Ataxia
Research - 5 Promising trials are due to take place in the next year:
1)
Dr. Joel
Gottesfeld – Scripps Institute
– This compound is a modified HDAC Inhibitor. When applied to cell cultures and
white blood cells from FA patients and family members, it appears to increase
frataxin protein production. In a lab setting, the frataxin protein was
increased to the point where it went above carrier status. This is the BIG
one! At least $3 million is needed to complete this trial from start to finish.
2)
NIH in
Bethesda, MD -
The Idebenone Phase II trial was concluded and the results have just been
published. Phase III trial is being planned for the US, having already opened
in Europe. (Allie participated in Phase 1 and Phase II as one of 48 children
nationwide).
3)
Pilot Study
of EPO is Underway in Austria
– has been shown to increase frataxin expression in vitro.
4)
UCLA
(and other various sites) - The Phase II trial of MitoQ is targeted for winter
06-07 – directs antioxidants specifically to the mitochondria, hoping to
alleviate some of the oxidative stress, which leads to healthier cells.
5)
Dr. Guy
Miller –
EPI-A0001 Edison Pharmaceuticals plans to begin the trial of its extremely
promising compound by early 2007. If successful, the FA patients would have
more energy, be less fatigued and their cells would not die as a result of
programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Aaron and Ori, December 2006
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