Page 24 - 2021 Spring CMTA Report - Special Research Edition

Why WE Give:

WE BELIEVE IN

THE CMTA

To believe is to have confidence, to feel sure and to trust.

By Missy and Seth Warfield

Here’s why we are such Our reasons for giving to the CMTA So, we believe in the outreach of
believers: go deep. Our family lives with CMT the CMTA and this is why we have
every day. Missy was diagnosed
led several challenge matches for
We have been active with the CMTA with CMT1A as a young teenager, CMT1A. These are difficult times:
for many, many years. We have having struggled running, jumping, Nonprofits and those who need
watched it grow and fine-tune its twisting ankles and falling down for their help need all of us to believe.
organization and mission “to years. She was reason #1. Then, CMT is an “orphan” disease, a rare
support the development of new our two children were diagnosed disease affecting barely 3 million
drugs to treat CMT, to improve the with CMT as youngsters. Reasons people around the world and some
quality of life for those with CMT #2 and #3. Years later, two of our six 150,000 in the United States.
and, ultimately, to find a cure.” grandchildren were added to our Finding financial support to cure
We watched as the STAR (Strategy CMT1A list. That’s #4 and #5—three our “unusual” disease is tough when
to Accelerate Research) alliance generations! We long for a cure. so many are dying of COVID-19
brought CMT researchers from What has the CMTA done to help and so many others are facing food
around the world together to work us all? It has named Centers of insecurity. But we believe in the
in collaboration, not competition. Excellence across the United States CMTA. We hope for a cure and we
We watched as those research and five more overseas. The 41 believe in your decision to help.
scientists tackled the first few genes clinics have multidisciplinary teams Please join us in our push to raise
known to cause CMT, then kept of experts to evaluate and help $1 million for CMT1A research by
working to discover CMT in more those affected by CMT. Our family the end of this year. We will match
than 100 genes. We’ve seen the has been to several different CMT all donations to our challenge up to
CMTA grow from searching for clinics, where we were helped with $500,000.
pharmaceutical companies, large bracing, exercise and advice. Add We believe in you, too! Our
and small, who would offer their the 72 CMTA branches—patient and challenge will come in two parts:
“libraries” of developed drugs to family support groups, one started one now to match $250,000 and
test for efficacy in treating CMT. by us—to see how many people another in the fall. The CMTA
Now there are 32 committed have been helped by the CMTA. already has our good-faith gift of
“pharmas” and others “knocking on $250,000 for the first challenge. We
the CMTA’s door.” For the youngsters, the CMTA believe that if all of us give—even a
created Camp Footprint where
Yes, we believe in the CMTA and its “you’re not the only one who cannot little—we can give CMT1A research
Charity Navigator 4-star (the best) run very well,” according to one the $1 million “shot in the arm” to
rating for the high percentage of grandchild. That is a place where find the cure. Donations to the
money raised that goes directly to those with fewer CMT issues can CMT1A challenge can be made at:
CMT research and the transparency see those who must wear AFOs cmtausa.org/1Amatch
overall. Not every charity achieves or braces or use wheelchairs or
that high rating. crutches and where they all know
that they are loved and not alone.
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