Celebs For Kids Makes A $7 Million Challenge

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Dozens of celebrities including actors Matt Damon, Cheech Marin, and Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr are helping to raise funds for a research centre dedicated to pediatric rheumatology at Canada’s B.C. Children’s Hospital

Inspired by Karim Chandani, founder of Celebs for Kids in partnership with the Arthritis Society of Canada and Lupus Canada, the $3.5 million project – the Ross Petty Research Chair in Paediatric Rheumatology – will address the enormous lack of knowledge about Lupus in both the medical field and the general public, and the fact that there is currently no such research or treatment facility in Canada.

According to lupus sufferer Dr Jan McCaffrey, lupus is difficult to diagnose or treat because it affects every patient differently and has only a fraction of the research or public awareness compared to that of other well-known diseases. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy body systems and tissues, resulting in pain and organ damage. McCaffrey says, “If I had to write a bumper sticker for doctors and lupus with a view of helping diagnose patients sooner, I would say, ‘If it doesn’t make sense, think of lupus.’”

Look To The Stars News: Arthritis Society of Canada

Celebs For Kids Makes A $7 Million Challenge