First Lady's Program
First Lady Elaine�s program will benefit research efforts
Reaching Out for Medical Miracles
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First Lady Elaine is pleased to announce her fundraising program, �Reaching out for Medical Miracles,�� benefiting the research program of Shriners Hospitals for Children. An angel holding a heart symbolizes her program.
The quiet, methodical work of Shriners Hospitals� researchers impacts and improves the lives of countless children every year and is, in a sense, miraculous, as is the generosity of Shriners and their Ladies.
In 2006, Shriners Hospitals will spend $33 million on research, funding 140 projects that have the potential to improve the lives of children everywhere. For example, Shriners� researchers have created new medications for osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as �brittle bone disease�); dramatically improved the life expectancy of children with severe burns; and provided greater understanding of causes of skeletal birth defects.
Research in spinal cord injury (SCI) is of particular interest to First Lady Elaine. Some projects underway in this field include a study at the Northern California Shriners Hospital to better understand the relationship between SCI and normal development of the central nervous system.
In other SCI research, the Chicago hospital is studying the long-term social, psychological and occupational outcomes of pediatric SCI patients. And, the Philadelphia hospital continues to study ways functional electrical stimulation can improve the fitness and mobility of SCI patients.
While eight Shriners Hospitals are specifically designated as research centers, all 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children are involved in some form of research. Generally these investigations focus on improving and expanding treatments for severe burns, understanding complex musculoskeletal disorders, and improving techniques used to treat both mobility problems and spinal cord injuries. All of these efforts have one single purpose: to improve the lives of children.
�We are extremely grateful to Lady Elaine for selecting the research program as beneficiary of her program, and to all of our friends who have been so faithful and generous with their support,� said Zakir H. Bengali, Ph.D., corporate director of research programs.
As Imperial Sir Nick and Lady Elaine make their visits throughout this Imperial Year, they ask that in lieu of personal gifts, Nobles and Ladies make a donation to the First Lady's program, �Reaching out for Medical Miracles.�� A specially designed pin or tie will be given for each contributon of $25.
Order forms can be given to the Imperial Potentate or his Lady, or may be sent with donations to Shriners International Headquarters, Donor Relations Department, P. O. Box 31356, Tampa, FL 33631. Canadian donations or order forms should be sent to Canadian Shriners Hospital, 1529 Cedar Ave., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A6.
Online donations to the First Lady's program is now available.
