Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation Surpasses 2014
Walk & 5K Fundraising Goal!
Nevada’s 2014 Hemophilia Walk and 5K is the Chapter’s Most Successful
The 2014 Hemophilia Walk and 5K will go into the record books! For the first time in Nevada, due to the overwhelming support of sponsors and walk teams, the Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Hemophilia Walk & 5K surpassed the $50,000 fundraising mark! Additionally, this was the first year a Hemophilia Walk and 5K was also held in Reno.
“It has been incredible to see the support and awareness of our walk, and our mission, grow in the state of Nevada,” said Kelli Walters, Executive Director of the Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. “We serve the entire state so these funds will benefit those in Las Vegas and Reno and the smaller communities we serve including Winnemucca, Ely and Elko.”
More than 400 people attended the Las Vegas event at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs and 130 attended Reno’s first Hemophilia Walk at Virginia Lake Park.
In Las Vegas, Team Emily & AJ, along with Team Captain Alison Bartko, were recognized as the Top Fundraising Team for raising more than $8,000 in contributions for the walk. Team Emily & AJ is named after Alison’s children, both of whom have severe Hemophilia.
Funds raised will be used in a number of ways. Every year, the Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation sends children with an inherited bleeding disorder and their siblings, to a medically supervised camp at no cost. The kids learn many things about their disease, how to manage it and how to gain independence in spite of their condition. They also get the chance to have fun in an outdoor setting with those who understand their disease. Funds will also be used to underwrite support groups for the newly diagnosed and their families.
Those with inherited bleeding disorders such as Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, lack a protein which allows their blood to clot normally. Depending on the severity of their condition, those affected rely on infusions of “factor” given daily, weekly or as needed to stop or prevent a devastating blood loss.
Both walks were sponsored by the Hemophilia Treatment Center of Nevada which provides diagnosis, treatment, medical referrals and comprehensive clinics to all people with inherited bleeding and clotting disorders in Las Vegas, Reno and throughout the state. It is the only federally recognized hemophilia treatment center (HTC) in the state.
NHF Nevada was founded in 1990 and helps meet the vast education and support needs of the bleeding disorders community in Nevada. There are approximately 20,000 people living with Hemophilia in the United States. It is an expensive disease where life-long management of Hemophilia places a large financial burden on individuals and families. Additionally, NHF Nevada provides services to those affected by von Willebrand disease, and clotting disorders such as Thrombophilia, which causes the blood to clot excessively. Every dollar raised at this event will help the bleeding disorder community in Nevada.
