A Cause So Near & Dear to Me (Please Read)

The two beauties above are Sara and Laura Ferrarone, my boyfriend's sisters and two women I couldn't love more. They both live with a progressive and life-threatening disease called Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). This is the exciting part: it seems a cure (and our family's miracle) could be on the horizon! Margaret Ferrarone (John, Sara, and Laura's amazing mom and my "other mama") is participating in Ride Ataxia Philadelphia, a long bike ride this October to raise money for FA research. We could use your support - even five dollars means a lot. Please read Margaret's recent letter to family and friends and learn a bit more about this incredible family...

Sara Ferrarone

Laura Ferrarone

Dear Friends,

 Two young women in my life continue to make me proud everyday in the way they approach and accept the challenges of their life’s course.  As you know, these are my daughters, Sara and Laura.  Since I gave up working over a year ago to focus more fully on their needs and to figure out how to help them gain more independence, I likely have faced one of the tougher challenges of my life.  First, I am everyday faced with their physical and health obstacles and there have been many.  Second, I am emotionally connected to the frustrations they face as they are losing abilities and having to accept those losses.  Finally, I am anxious that there is not a cure TODAY for Friedreich’s ataxia.  I remember at Sara’s diagnosis in 1996 when the doctor said that potential cures would be the year 2000 or beyond;  that seemed like a lifetime.  Well, never in my wildest dreams did I think that in 2010, I would still be waiting.  Little did I understand what it takes to cure a disease.

Laura, John & Sara

 On September 26, Sara and I are travelling to Philadelphia to the Children’s Hospital to begin a drug trial that will last a couple of months with 5 separate trips to Philly.  This is one of several studies that are underway or will be underway in the months to come.  Both Sara and Laura will participate in another study here in Rochester next Spring.  Finally, a little hope has arrived at our door.  Our years of fund raising and contributing have meant something.

 On October 10, I am going back to Philadelphia for the Ride Ataxia bicycle ride.  I am no bike rider and in fact just borrowed a bike this summer to start riding and to gain the confidence to ride in an event such as this.  I am slow and steady!  I will set no records and in fact I just hope I won’t keel over after the many hill climbs outside Philly.  It may be more of a walk with my bike by my side!  However, my purpose is not a bike ride, it is to focus on the treasures of my life while helping fund the research.

The Wonderful Ferrarones and me, Italy 2010

As many of you addressed in this letter have given so much before, my request is not made without hesitation.  There are endless ways that friends and family have supported Sara and Laura over these many years.  They have benefited from the financial support to research but, more importantly they have been immeasurably blessed by the love, care and thoughtfulness of many.

If you are able and interested in supporting this Ride Ataxia, I have a fund raising page set up online with a link below.  If you are interested in sending a check for me to donate, that is fine too.  All fund raising goes to FARA, the Friedreich’s ataxia Research Alliance.  These are friends and close allies who are so diligently working with researchers around the world to cure this disease.  Please check out FARA’s website if you are interested in more info.  Click here to reach my personal  fund raising.

Again, many thanks for enduring my years of asking for help.  My appreciation is sincere and infinite.

Margaret

Thanks for reading! I hope you'll consider sponsoring Margaret in this great endeavor and adding to our family's hope. It would mean the world.

Love,

Maya