Post to newbies regarding the RP Foundation

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to all the new members. Since we have had quite a few new

people in the group, I thought I'd send an update on the Relapsing

Polychondritis Foundation.

The Foundation is totally separate from the support group. It is a non

profit Foundation with the goal to make the public and medical professions

aware of RP and to fund research. No one working for the Foundation gets

paid in any way. (only from the fulfillment we get in seeing it grow).

We ask for a $15 a year donation or you may send any amount you want. You

may send money in " honor " of someone. For their birthday, anniversary, or

just because.

You may ask your friends and relatives to send money in your honor instead of

a present for Christmas or birthday. We take it any way we can. LOL

I will send a letter that wrote. We have gotten great response from

it. You may use it or write your own.

We are in the process of getting the brochures printed, so they should be

available soon to start putting in hospitals, Drs. offices or wherever you

think they would be a benefit to help get more people properly diagnosed.

As you may already know, Marilyn has started an exercise group. We put money

in a jar every time we exercise and at the end of three months we add it up

and send it to the Foundation. In my case, I put it in when I don't

exercise.LOL Just extra change from the day will help.

We are also working on a quilt in a patriotic theme. Kathleen Loch will put

it together for us. Anyone interested in making a square can let us know.

Kathleen is in the process of moving so it will be a bit longer.

Whew.....that will give me time to learn to quilt. LOL We will then raffle

it off and the money will go to the Foundation.

Many things are happening and I hope that you will all want to get involved

in the Foundation. To find a cure one day would be our ultimate Goal!!!

But we need help from all of you. There are the costs of postage, printing,

shipping, etc.

Remember this is a tax deductible donation. Please just consider it. We

want to put an end to this disease and don't want to lose any one else to it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to write me or you may go to our

web site, (which we are still working on) at www.polychondritis.org

If you would like to make a donation, please make out your check or money

order to " RP Foundation " and mail to:

RP Foundation

c/o Colloran

775 Bounty Place

Manteca, CA 95337

Also, when I am in the hospital, Heidi might be in Germany, so there might be

a little delay before your check is cashed. But hopefully we will get our

timing together and it will be real smooth.

Thank you again to all who continue to support the Foundation and for all of

you who feel you would like to.

Oh.... one more thing. If you feel you would like to be part of the

Foundation but can't due to hardship, please let us know. We always have RP

angels who sponsor people. Also if you would like to become and RP angel,

let me know. This is all confidential and no one know who is sponsored or

who the sponsor is.

We also have a newsletter that comes out to member.

Thank you all again.