*From our friends at Mobil Medic & Expedition Awareness*
We’d like to take a moment to share with you a little bit about Expedition Awareness (EA). EA has “…chosen to raise awareness for Adrenoleukodystrophy (and the ALD Foundation) and Newborn Screening for the disease. As well as promote the genetic research facility built by the Texas Childrens Hospital. TCH is undergoing genetic research related to ALD.”
The ALD Foundation defines Adrenoleukodystrophy as, “a genetically determined neurological disorder that affects 1 in every 17,900 boys worldwide. The presentation of symptoms occurs between the ages of 4 and 10, and affects the brain with demyelination. Demyelination is the stripping away of the fatty coating that keeps nerve pulses confined and maintains the integrity of nerve signals. This process inhibits the nerves ability to conduct properly, thereby causing neurological deficits, including visual disturbances, auditory discrimination, impaired coordination, dementia, and seizures. Demyelination is an inflammatory response and nerve cells throughout the brain are destroyed.
Boys develop normally until the onset of symptoms occurs. Symptoms typically rival those of attention deficit disorder before serious neurological involvement becomes apparent. The symptoms progress rapidly and lead to vegetative state within two years, and death anytime thereafter.
Adrenocortical insufficiency, Addison’s Disease, is seen in 90 percent of the cases of ALD.”
Expedition Awareness is going to be featured in an upcoming documentary on their Continental Divide Expedition. The Expedition’s planned route will cover 2 countries, 15 states, and 4 provinces…that’s over 5,300 miles. Somewhere in those 5,300 miles they’ll find time to stop off at various locations to help raise awareness for ALD. The expedition will come to an end in Tulsa, Oklahoma where EA will present their gifts to the ALD Foundation including a nice plaque as a reminder of commitment to exploration for a viable treatment for ALD.
We’d like to take this opportunity to announce our support for Expedition Awareness through our, newly launched, Mobil Medic Trauma Gear: “A Buck Adds Up” Campaign.
We know that not everyone has the Philanthropic Prowess of Bill Gates and that times are tough but we believe that TOGETHER we can all make a difference. At this time we have well over 2,000 fans on facebook and we are asking each and every one of you to dig deep and donate $1 to our cause! 1 in 18,000 newborn boys is affected by ALD let’s help EA get us closer to finding a cure.
To donate please go to EA’s website and click on the yellow DONATE button (http://www.expedition-awareness.org/node/40). When you are confirming the donation after entering your credit card information make sure to leave them a note and tell them “A Buck Adds Up!”
* Published by JPFreek Adventure Magazine – The leader in Jeep and adventure enthusiast publications.