Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Veterans Community Network to host discussion in Souderton


JOIN US (Veterans Community Network, Peaceful Living, Franconia Mennonite Conferences) and other community groups to provide a listening and discussion forum for families to share concerns, problems and triumphs regarding the transition of their son, daughter, spouse or any loved one back from war. 

The forum will be held at “Generations” in Souderton. The partners welcome any and all individuals that want to learn, discuss and network with others that are concerned with effective communication and understanding of veterans.

 Focus:        Listening to family stories in a safe and caring forum to                      discuss the difficulties faced by veterans and their 
                   families returning from war to civilian life.
Place:         Generations of Indian Valley, (Senior Center)
                    259 North 2nd Street, Souderton, PA 18964
Date:          October 24, 2013
Time:        7 PM – 9 PM
Contact: D. Glen Miller/VCN

215.527.6203 for more information




Monday, October 21, 2013

Harleysville family hosts haunted house to combat daughter's rare disease

Scare for a Cure!!!
Saturday October 26, 2013
Starting atp.m.

Click to read The Reporter's story about Miea.



FOOD - PRIZES - FUN - HAUNTED HOUSE
DJ – BON FIRE - FIREWORKS
Join us on Saturday October 26, 2013 at 4 p.m.
726 Sumneytown Pike Harleysville PA 19438.

$20 donation per person (kids under 15 FREE) includes food, drinks, games, prizes, and fun for all ages including a kid friendly haunted house and a 15 and over haunted house starting after dark!

The Scare for a Cure fundraiser is inspired by 20 month-old Miea who suffers from Sturge Weber Syndrome. With the help of our community last year Miea was able to get treatment from the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  As a result of Miea’s time there researchers were able to determine the cause of SWS.  This information is HUGE! Researchers will be able to offer new treatments and have hope for a cure. All the funds raised through this event will go towards research at Kennedy Krieger Institute and help kids who suffer from SWS. 

Here is a letter from Miea's doctor who is leading SWS research:
Dear Families and Friends,

I hope this email finds you well. As you know, we recently revealed the cause of Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS): a genetic mutation that occurs before birth. These findings are truly a turning point for research on SWS because we can now move quickly toward targeted therapies, offering the promise of new treatments. Now, more than ever, we need to continue our fundraising efforts because the hope for a cure has never been closer.

We are making good progress in the lab towards setting a cell culture model for SWS-we expect to soon be testing the effects of novel treatments.  Discussions are underway as to how best to begin setting up pilot treatment trials based on our new knowledge of the basis of SWS.

I’d like to take a moment and share with you how another of our many supporters is helping to raise funds for our center and awareness of SWS. Please consider joining the family, friends and neighbors of Carla and Patrick Brown who will be hosting Scare for a Cure  on their 4 acres of farmland in Harleysville PA to benefit the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center at the Kennedy Krieger Center.  There will be 2 Haunted houses (one for kids and one for older teens and adults), food, drinks and Halloween games, a DJ, fireworks and a bonfire with fun to be had by all!  They still need volunteers to help out so if you can help or want to support this effort please contact Carla at carlaiacona@me.com .  Together we can make a difference and discover a better future for all with SWS.
The funds raised by this event will directly support the development of new treatments for SWS. For more information, please check out their Facebook event page at:https://www.facebook.com/events/261725703952664/

As Director of the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center at Kennedy Krieger, and lead investigator for several ongoing SWS clinical and translational studies here, I would greatly appreciate your support of this initiative.

Thank you for your time,

Dr. Anne Comi

Anne M. Comi MD
Associate Professor
Neurology and Pediatrics
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Director, Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center



Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Motorcycle Rodeo for Vietnam Vets

The Souderton Legion never sleeps when it comes to fundraising and rallying to support veterans. This coming Saturday (10/19) they will host a Motorcycle  Rodeo for the Vietnam Veterans Association.

To ride your motorcycle and participate in the obstacle course you'll need to sign up at the Legion (353 North Main St., Souderton) in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon. For $10 spectators can join in the fun - food and beer included - beginning at 2 p.m.

For more details about the Legions activities click here.