TWO ORGANIZATIONS, ONE EVENT: FIGHTING LEUKODYSTROPHIES, EATING DISORDERS

AMARILLO, TEXAS – The Stennis Foundation and TeamBraeden of Amarillo, Texas, are coming together to fight Leukodystrophies and Eating Disorders. They are sponsoring the L.E.D. (Leukodystrophies and Eating Disorders) Walk on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at Sam Houston Park, located at Line Avenue and Western Street. Sign-in and late registration begins at 9:00 a.m.; the walk begins at 10:00. Proceeds from this event will be used to fund Leukodystrophies research, as well as inpatient treatment for Eating Disorders.

The Leukodystrophies are a group of rare brain-degenerative diseases that strip away myelin, the insulated covering of nerves in the brain. Prognosis for these diseases depends on the specific type of Leukodystrophy. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, and can include medications, various therapies, and possible bone marrow transplantation. Government funding for research is limited, so it is important to provide funding for research to find a cure for these diseases.

Eating Disorders – the main types being Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa – are real, treatable medical illnesses in which maladaptive patterns of eating take on a life of their own. They frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but have been known to develop during childhood. Patients with eating disorders can experience physical health complications, including heart conditions and kidney failure, which can lead to death; therefore, to recognize eating disorders as serious, real medical conditions, and insuring that patients can get the help they need, is of the utmost importance.

Two organizations. Two causes. One event.

For additional information regarding the Leukodystrophies, log on to www.stennisfoundation.org. For additional information regarding Eating Disorders, or to download a brochure for the L.E.D. Walk, log on to www.teambraeden.org, or call (806) 467-2747.


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