Sample Donation letter from

[Guest guest]

[insert Current Date]

[insert name

and address info]

Dear [name]:

I am writing you about a disease I have been diagnosed with called Relapsing Polychondritis (RP). RP is an uncommon autoimmune disorder involving inflammation of cartilage and other connective tissues of the ears, joints, nose, larynx, trachea, eyes, heart valves, kidneys and blood vessels. It affects each individual differently and may be mild or life threatening. Because it is considered a rare "orphan" disease with an estimated incidence of 3.5 cases per million people, there is not a lot of funding for research into the cause, treatment and cure. That is why I am writing to you.

The Relapsing Polychondritis Support and Awareness Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to RP sufferers, their friends and family members in the form of educational material and to promote awareness by distributing educational materials to health care providers. Perhaps most importantly, the RP Foundation raises funds to assist in research to understand the cause and hopefully, one day, find a cure. All monies contributed to the RP Foundation are tax deductible and go directly to support research and educating the public, and medical profession, on this disease. No one in the organization is paid for their work. All members either have RP or a close family member with RP. To learn more about RP and the RP Foundation, visit the RP Foundation's website at www.polychondritis.org.

Please help us to continue to support RP research by making a contribution to: RP Foundation, c/o Colloran, 775 Bounty Place, Manteca, California 95337. Any contribution you can make would be deeply appreciated and will be going to a cause that could make a big difference in my life.

Very truly yours,

[Name]