VOTE FOR GWENDOLYN!!

As you all know, we have friends who's daughter has a horrible disease called SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). She was born healthy and happy, but Gwendolyn started to decline after only a couple of months. She is now completely paralyzed, but has the normal mind of any two year old. She has surpassed the disease's life expectancy which is two years old. Sadly, most babies do not.

Right now there is NO cure, BUT researchers are extremely close to finding one. This is a time sensitive matter. Right now The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation has an opportunity to win a One Million Dollar grant from Chase Community Giving, and we need YOUR VOTE to get it! If this money is awarded, there WILL be a CURE for SMA. We want to see Gwendolyn enjoy the taste of food and take out the feeding tube in her stomach. We want to see her breathe without being hooked up to a machine 24/7. We want to see her parents get a well deserved break from the constant monitoring they have been doing for over 2 years straight now! We want this disease to be eliminated!

One of the great things about this research is that SMA is considered a "model" disease and many scientist believe it is a "gateway" to answers for countless other diseases, including: ALS/Lou Gehrig's, spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, the muscular dystrophies, and even some forms of cancer!!

As if you need more reasons to vote: Here are some more facts I have taken from Victoria's blog:
•SMA -- Spinal Muscular Atrophy -- KILLS more young children than ANY other inherited disease -- 50% die by their 1st birthday, 90% by their 2nd.

•1 in 40 people UNKNOWINGLY carries the SMA gene -- few have any known family history.

•SMA is degenerative and terminal. Although born healthy, babies eventually lose the ability to walk, sit, eat, breathe, and even swallow. The mind is NEVER impacted and children with SMA are bright and social.

•The National Institutes of Health (NIH) coined SMA as the disease "CLOSEST to TREATMENT".

•Researchers say a CURE is possible in a few years -- IF given adequate funding.

So, are you ready to VOTE?!!! Go to this site http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/710566 and cast your vote! Thank you for supporting this cause! With your help, we are going to do this!! Please send these links to your friends, family, and co-workers!

http://gwendolynstrongfoundation.org/chase

http://www.youtube.com/gsfoundation