Friday, 20 April 2012 00:00

It is that time of year again. The temperatures are warm, the flowers are blooming, the grass is green and Hadassahs 6th Annual Walkathon for Stem Cell Research is here. Come out, experience springtime, get some exercise and make a difference, all at the same time.

Hadassahs Walkathon for Stem Cell Research is on Sunday, May 6 at Temple Israel on Old Mill Road (rain or shine). Registration will begin at 9:45 a.m. and the walk will officially start at 10 a.m.

You can help bring awareness to this important cause by participating in this community event. All ages are welcome as we walk two miles, to show our support for stem cell research. Runners are welcome to run the extended four or six-mile course as well. There will be snacks, t-shirts and fun for all.

Not only are we encouraging families to participate, we are encouraging students of all ages to get involved by helping to organize, publicize, and raise funds for the event and of course, by walking for stem cell research. Join us and play a role in turning research into cures worldwide. We are making strides to stamp out many dreaded diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, diabetes, ALS, cancer, spinal cord injuries, macular degeneration, and traumatic brain injuries.

Hadassah is in the forefront of stem cell research and continues to bring hope to millions of suffering patients with life-changing diseases. A whole new area of regenerative medicine is on the brink of discovery. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults over 50. Hadassah researchers successfully treated and prevented retinal deterioration by transplanting visual cells derived from human embryonic stem cells in animals with retinal degeneration.

Multiple Sclerosis is the most common form of neurological disabilities in young people. Hadassah scientists were first to demonstrate that transplanted neural cells derived from human embryonic stem cells can reduce clinical symptoms in animals with a form of MS.

Hadassah neurologists conducted the first clinical trial treating MS and ALS patients by injecting their spinal columns with adult stem cells taken from their own hipbone marrow. This reduces the chance of immune system rejection, and avoids the complex ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cell usage.

For more information on Hadassahs Walkathon for Stem Cell Research, to make a donation or to register for the walk, please follow the link: http://www.hadassah.org/nassau/ stemcellwalkathon or call 766-2725. The suggested minimum donation to participate is $20/individual or $36/family.

More:
Great Neck Hadassah’s Walkathon For Stem Cell Research On May 6