Andy Peel, a boy of 10, is making the best of the bad hand that fate has dealt him.
Instead of curling up in a corner, closing himself off from society or acting out in some negative fashion, the Clinton boy has chosen to put a public face on Crohn’s disease, a life-changing gastrointestinal inflammatory disorder.
In my book, that makes him a real hero.
Since being diagnosed two years ago, Andy and his parents Todd and Jennifer Peel and sister Emily have become tireless advocates for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, raising awareness and research dollars through cookie sales and other charitable work. In fact, they’ve raised nearly $1,000 for the self-funded nonprofit.
Andy will be recognized as the 2011 local hero for the foundation’s “Take Steps Walk” at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Akron’s Lock 3 Park. He will speak about his experiences and be featured online and in print materials promoting the fundraiser.
“No one wants to have this disease but some of us get stuck with it,” said Andy, a student at Green Intermediate School. “I learned not to be embarrassed about my disease because there is no way around it.”
If you have that day free, come support Andy’s Army, whose goal is to raise $1,000 for the cause.
For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/andys-army.
Coming to Times Square
A great big hurrah for Henry Shall, the soon-to-be 2-year-old grandson of Tallmadge veterinarian Dr. Michael Andrews and Susan Andrews. He will appear in lights Sept. 24 in New York’s Times Square as part of the National Down Syndrome Society video presentation.
More then 200 photographs of persons with Down syndrome will appear in the video on the larger-than-life MTV plasma screen. Henry, son of former Summit County residents Kara and Scott Shall of Philadelphia, is pictured getting a kiss from Robby, the Andrews’ 5-year-old golden retriever.
The family also will participate in New York City’s 17th annual Buddy Walk Sept. 24 at the Great Hill in Central Park, to promote inclusion and acceptance and raise awareness about the value of persons with Down syndrome.
Researcher is grateful
When Mary Katherine “Kassie” McMullin Biglow, a young wife and mother, died in 2004 from complications of lupus, her family wanted not only to create a better awareness of the disease, but also to raise much-needed research dollars.
They succeeded in doing both. Kassie McMullin Biglow’s name will forever be associated with making a huge difference in research.
For five straight years following her death, her parents Joe and Mary Jane McMullin and other family members and close friends hosted the “Kassie Memorial Lap ’Round the Lake for Lupus” at the Boat House at Silver Lake.
The final event in 2009, supported by readers of this column, attracted 200 faithful friends and raised $10,000 for research. In its five years, the event raised more than $55,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America.
Now comes definitive word of the effort’s huge impact in the form of a recent letter to Joe McMullin from a researcher:
“In 2007, I was lucky enough to receive a pilot grant from the Lupus Foundation of America in the name of your daughter, Kassie,” wrote Vikki M. Abrahams, Ph.D, an associate professor in Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Reproductive Immunology Unit.
“Shortly after, I received a wonderful letter from you in which you shared your daughter’s story with me. This truly touched me and validated the kind of research that I had begun, trying to understand why women with lupus/APS [antiphospholipid syndrome, a related disease] have complicated pregnancies.
“Thanks to the initial grant, this project has grown into one of my lab’s main research programs. Initially we began working out ways in which the antiphospholipid antibodies found in patients with APS and lupus impact the normal function of the placenta, and why therapies like heparin and aspirin don’t always work so well. Based on our initial studies funded by the LFA, we have been able to secure two more grants from private foundations and are applying for more.
“We are now moving our studies towards the goal of working out better ways of predicting pregnancy complications in women like Kassie, and better ways of treating them. I have attached our publications, thus far, which without the Kassie McMullin Biglow Memorial Research Award, we never would have been able to accomplish.
“I wanted to express my gratitude to you and your family for supporting medical research, and in helping my lab embark upon these studies.”
Charity breakfast
Bring your appetite and a friend or two to the Charity Pancake Breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 27 at Presentation of Our Lord Orthodox Church, 3365 Ridgewood Road, Fairlawn (across from Visiting Nurse Society’s Hospice).
All proceeds from the mega event, sponsored by Ak-ROY (Akron Romanian Orthodox Youth), go to Summit County Stand-Down for Homeless Veterans and Copley-Fairlawn “Share-A-Christmas” program.
A free will offering will get you a seat. For more information, please call 330-760-4124.
Benefit wine tasting
Girls on the Run of Stark County hopes that adults will come to its third annual benefit wine tasting 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at Maize Valley Winery, 6193 Edison St. NE (state Route 619), Hartville.
Four-time Hawaii Ironman tri-athlete Molly Barker established Girls on the Run in Charlotte, N.C., in 1996 with the objective of reducing at-risk behavior among participants: “The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.”
The 10-week program, geared to girls 8 to 13, combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing and uplifting workouts, encouraging positive emotional, spiritual, social, mental and physical development.
The $25 cost includes wine sampling, appetizers, entertainment and a chance to bid on gift baskets. No tickets will be sold at the door.
For more information, please call 330-936-7000 or visit http://www.gotrstarkcty.org or http://www.girlsontherun.org
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com