[Accelerated Cure Project Status] Informal status for April 2008

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status for the month of April 2008

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>>> Joining/Leaving Us Last Month

o Still the same old lovable bunch

>>> Research

Repository:

o If you live in the Seattle area (or would like to go to a great
  MS/TM/NMO meeting there) - you can enroll in our repository for a
  short time this summer. Check out The 3rd International Rare
  Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium July 16 - 19, 2008

  http://dev.esg.us/Seattle/

o We are now up to 1107 subjects who have contributed data and blood 
  samples to the repository. This is our first big milestone for
  enrollment - crossing the 1K enrollment level:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/news/pr/20080422_1000subjects.php
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/repository/status.php

o Sara met with Dr. David Jones (currently of UMass, future director of 
  Lehigh Valley Hospital MS Center in Allentown PA) about the possibility 
  of opening a collection site in PA.

o We distributed 893 samples from MS subjects and controls to the
  Harvard School of Public Health for a study of vitamin D-related
  gene variants.

o We also distributed 574 samples to the Broad Institute for inclusion
  in a collaborative project to perform a whole-genome screen to look
  for variants associated with MS.

o We approved distribution of samples and data to Michael Demetriou of
  UC Irvine for a project studying genes involved in protein
  glycosylation (addition of specific sugars to proteins).

o Art presented at the Utah Brain Institute on our repository
  effort. You can see the video here:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/video/braininstitute2008.php

  While there, he also met with representatives from Q Therapeutics
  and Linneagen.

Other Science Efforts:

o Art and Hollie attended the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
  annual meeting in Chicago where we heard about the latest MS
  research updates.  You can read our meeting notes here:

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/node/3205

>>> Education

o Poll - Has having MS in your life (you or loved one) had any
  positive influence?

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/node/3217

o We continue our daily MS News updates

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org

>>> Fundraising

>>> Community Building

o We participated in Sun Microsystem's World Wide Volunteer Week
  effort and hosted a group of Sun employees doing some IT work for
  us. Dave Kaffine (also of Sun) spearheaded this effort and spent his
  second annual week of vacation as a volunteer with us.

o We had meetings with the following people:
  - Art met with representatives from the NMSS and Families of Spinal
    Muscular Atrophy organizations
  - Seth and Art met with the Leonard Florence center about their 
    MS/ALS Green House Project
  - Seth and Jane attended the Medeiros family dinner and had a blast!
  - Seth and Jane met with Ann Cabot at The Upper Valley Neurology 
    Center about fundraising to make them a repository
  - Seth and Art attended Teva's Patient Marketing event in Burlington, MA
  - Sarah spoke at a support group in Berkeley, CA on Saturday, April 5th
  - Sarah flew to Boston to spend a week with her coworkers
  - Sarah attended Biogen's Patient Marketing Seminar in Oakland, CA
  - Art met with Kate Dawson of Biogen Idec to talk about the BG-12
    trial

o As always, a few more T-shirt pictures are available:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/tshirt.php

>>> Events

Detailed information about all of our upcoming events can be found on
our web site: http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/calendar.php
 
o May 10, Cincinnati, OH: "Let's Accelerate the Cure..." is a walk/run
  organized by teams "Kick MS For Karen" and "Marching for Mann" to
  get the Cincinnati community together to raise $$$$ for the fight
  against Multiple Sclerosis!

  http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/kick_ms_for_karen

o May 31, Waltham, MA: Our 7th Annual Hunt to Cure MS Scavenger Hunt
  will be held starting at the Skellig again. It's NOT TOO LATE to
  make a team!  Join the fun!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080531_hunt.php

o September 17, Boulder, CO: A 500 mile cycling tour through Colorado
  with American professional bicycle racer and Olympic gold medalist
  Tyler Hamilton.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080917_thf.php

o October 11, Cincinnati, OH: We're excited to announce the 3rd Annual
  Canine Happy Hour to Benefit Accelerate Cure Project. Mark your
  calendar and stay tuned for more details!

o October 26, Arlington, MA: This year's grant from the MA Cultural
  Council makes the 6th Annual Sing To Cure MS Concert set-to-go!
  Members of Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Boston, and other classical
  singers donate their glorious talents; win gift certificates and
  snack on refreshments: enjoy a concert to cure MS!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081026_sing.php

o November 7, Windham, NH: Save the date for the 2nd Annual Dance to
  Cure MS, a fun night out for adults coming together to socialize,
  dance and eat, but most importantly to give hope and support to
  those who have Multiple Sclerosis.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081107_dance.php

o November 22, Waltham, MA: Save the date for the 2008 Accelerated
  Cure Project Annual Event which will be held in a NEW LOCATION: The
  Doubletree Guest Suites in Waltham, MA.  See the website for more
  details:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081122_acpevent.php

o November 23, Easthampton, MA: Mark your calendars and grab your
  bikes for the 2nd Annual Nonotuck Cyclocross Race!  More details to
  come...

>>> Recent Events

o April 5:   Helen Chow of Salinas, CA hosted an MS Social at the 
  Salinas Black Bear.

o April 21: Our 2008 Boston Marathon Team raised an impressive
  $80,000!  Thank you to our eleven dedicated runners!  See photos:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080421_marathon.php

o April 26: Congratulations to the Medeiros family for organizing a
  very successful dinner in honor of Edmund J. Medeiros which raised
  over $3,000 for MS research and sports scholarships at Somerville
  High School.

>>> Operations

o Our auditors came in and finished their in-house work. Audited
  financials and tax forms to be available soon

>>> Volunteers Reporting Time Last Month

o St. Patrick's Day Party to Cure MS 2008
  Sharon Victor
  Jennifer Ames
  
o Sing to Cure MS 2008
  Marion Leeds Carroll
  
o Scavenger Hunt 2008
  Jennifer Downing
  Steve Brown
  Emily Collins
  Meaghan Shaw
  Claudia Abbes
  Rebecca Peterson
  Kelly Novak
  Debbie Mellor
  
o MS Social Salinas 2008
  Helen Chow
  Steven Johnson
  
o Letter Writing Campaign
  Richard O'Conner
  Ann Cabot
  
o Researching Boston K9 Happy Hour
  Katrina Lewis
  
o Kick MS for Karen 2008
  Jack Ankenbauer
  Debbie Mann
  Linda Como
  
o Donor Database Project
  Dave Kaffine
  David Pabisz
  Wayne Shaw
  Ryan Abraham
  
o Dance to Cure MS 2008
  Deb DuFault
  
o Canine Happy Hour 2008
  Debbie Mann
  
o Community Building
  Pat Phelps
  
o Admin
  Bonnie Hakkinen
  Kelly Novak
  
o Nonotuck Cyclocross Race
  Mark Stotz

o Contributed Goods & Services
  Clockwork Design Group, Inc
  American D.J. Entertainment
  Bucks Co. Herald
  Don and Martha Holmes
  Guispees
  LAD Hairdressing
  Olivia Durnin
  Twist Knitting & Spinning
  Abraham Leibson
  Angle Cards
  Bucks Co Gardens
  Carversville Inn
  Catherine Creek
  Children's outlet
  Chris Ferrara
  Chris Victor
  CVS
  Deborah Tinsman
  Impact Hair Salon
  Jan Lipes
  Jennifer Ames
  LAD Hairdressing
  Lisa Gladden Keyes
  Lonnie Aul
  Pam Miller
  Patty Ogeney
  Poco's Restaurant
  Roy Freedle
  Scott Maddux
  Sharon Victor
  Sherry and Dan Tinsman
  Susan Huang
  Susan Star
  Town and Country Players
  Vincent Ceglia
  Waterloo Gardens

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