Tuesday, July 27, 2010

National Minority Donor Awareness Day

Sunday, August 1 is National Minority Donor Awareness Day. This day is observed every August 1 to increase awareness of organ donation among African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Native American populations.

Currently, 108,000 Americans waiting for organ transplants. Nearly 60,000 of those waiting are minorities.

Unfortunately, there is a drastic shortage of minority organ donors. In fact, last year only 2,055 organ donors were African American, and only 2,031 donors were Hispanic.

Are you an organ donor? If you'd like to learn more about organ donation and how to register as a donor, visit the Transplant Challenge section of our website. If you are interested in being tested to be a living donor for someone, contact the patient's transplant center to begin the evaluation process.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser

Volunteers held a Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee's in Shelby, NC in honor of NFT patient Kevin Randall! The event was a huge success and raised approximately $1,300!

Did you know many Applebee's restaurants have Flapjack Fundraisers on Saturday or Sunday mornings? They provide all the food, flyers and clean-up and charge only $2 per person. You simply provide enough volunteers to work as servers! If you charge $7 to $10 per plate, you earn a $5 to $8 profit per person.

The campaign log-in section of our website lists a variety of restaurants that encourage organizations to fundraise, such as Applebee's and IHOP. Some restaurants will donate a percentage of their sales for an evening. The key is to go to your city's most popular restaurants and ASK them for their help.


Monday, July 19, 2010

Leukemia & Lymphoma Facts

• Someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 4 minutes.
• About 140,000 people were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2009.
• Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma will cause the deaths of more than 50,000 people in the United States this year.
• 146 people die every day from a blood cancer.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

NFT Celebrates Its 27th Anniversary!

In 1983, three caring and compassionate women read about a young girl who needed a liver transplant but could not afford the procedure. These women--Mary Clouse, Liz Hull and Elise Waldheim--worked hard to raise funds for the transplant and related expenses, and their tireless dedication contributed to the patient´s successful transplant. And that’s how the Liver Organ Transplant Fund began.

Other transplant candidates soon began contacting them for assistance, and it became evident that transplant candidates across the country would benefit from such services. The organization became the Organ Transplant Fund to reflect the many different types of transplants represented.

In 1998, the board of directors voted to change the name to the National Foundation for Transplants to better convey the organization´s national reach and to clearly include patients needing tissue, bone marrow or other transplants.

What began as a local endeavor has evolved into an organization benefiting thousands of organ and tissue transplant candidates and recipients. NFT's fundraising campaigns have generated more than $56 million to assist patients during their transplant journey, and NFT assists more than 1,000 patients!

We look forward to many more years of helping transplant patients across the country raise the funds they need to receive a second chance at life.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Former University of Memphis Basketball Player Needs Your Help

For four years, Willie Kemp gave his heart and soul on the basketball court for the University of Memphis. Tiger fans and the city of Memphis rallied around him, cheering him on night after night at the FedEx Forum. Now, Willie needs your help.

Willie's mother, Maxine Kemp, is battling polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and doctors have said a kidney transplant is critical to her survival.

A mom to three sons--Jermaine, Willie and Quintavius--she remains strong and determined to overcome this battle for them. She loves to spend time with her boys and was Willie's biggest fan when he played basketball at the University of Memphis. More than anything, she dreams of the day when she won't be in constant pain. Maxine is passionate about giving back to the community and helping others in need, but now she must rely on the kindness of others.

A kidney transplant costs approximately $250,000. And that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Maxine faces significant medical expenses related to her transplant. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

In fact, before Maxine can even be added to the transplant waiting list, she needs to raise $2,000 for a hospital deposit.

Tiger fans, now is your time to help! Visit the NFT website to read more about Maxine and make a donation to NFT in her honor.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Vote for NFT in Community Security Contest!

Community Security is a local security company in Memphis that donates 10-15% of their proceeds to nonprofit organizations that have partnered with them. When someone signs up with Community Security for their security system, they select a charity, and 10-15% of their bill is donated directly to the charity.

Right now, Community Security is having a contest on Facebook! They’re asking people to visit their page and make a post about why they like one of the charities. Those posts will be tallied as votes, and at the end of the month, the charity with the most votes will get $500.

Only one vote per person, so please spread the word! If you’re on Facebook, please visit their page and post a comment, and pass the word to your friends.

Total Strangers Reach out to Help Transplant Patient

The following article is from the News & Record in Greensboro, NC.

Michelle Matthews’ life changed forever when she had a massive heart attack in her kitchen on New Year’s Eve.

Since then, the 41-year-old Burlington woman has been struggling to survive while awaiting a heart transplant. Family and friends have helped her, but she was stunned when a pair of strangers stepped in to help her with medical bills.

Robert and Pamela Anderson, with the support of their church, have organized a July 17 golf tournament and fundraiser.

“I was really just absolutely shocked because they were strangers in my life,” Matthews said. “I am very thankful.”

Robert Anderson heard about Matthews’ situation through Charlotte Cox, a co-worker at Acutote in Graham. Cox, Matthews’ friend and roommate, has helped care for her.

“It just kind of evolved,” said Pamela Anderson of Burlington. “My husband and I are Christians, and we want to help those in need.”

Matthews was laid off three months before her heart attack and is too sick to work. The left side of her heart was destroyed.

“It looks like a bear has clawed the left side of my heart,” she said.

A battery-operated left ventricular-assist device is keeping her heart pumping until the transplant. She has been told her chances of getting a new heart are good, but she’ll face at least $12,000 in medical expenses in the two years following the transplant — and that’s if she can keep her medical insurance.

Despite the challenges, Matthews remains optimistic.

“I’m praying,” she said. “I believe that God has played a huge part in what has happened in my life.”

Matthews is looking forward to regaining her independent lifestyle and spending many more years with her 21-year-old son, who took a hiatus last semester from his studies at West Virginia University in Parkersburg to care for her.

The Andersons are working with the National Foundation for Transplants to promote the golf tournament. NFT is a nonprofit organization based in Memphis, Tenn., that helps patients raise money to pay for transplant-related expenses. The organization will pay the cost of renting the golf course.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church will provide lunch at the end of the tournament.

The Andersons still need players and sponsors for the event.

They’re hoping for 18 teams (72 players).

Matthews plans to help as much as she can at the golf fundraiser in Mebane. She said she hopes the event will remind people about the importance of organ donation. “If you can have the opportunity to save somebody’s life, why wouldn’t you want to do that for somebody?” she said.

Friday, July 9, 2010

July Patient of the Month: George Gianola

For 10 years, George was completely unaware that his body was suffering from health issues. Although his skin was very itchy for a long time, doctors were never able to pinpoint the problem. Finally, in 2006, after a new doctor performed blood work and other tests, George was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Colangitis (PSC), a disease that caused scarring and inflammation of his liver. Doctors have told George the damage is irreversible, and a liver transplant is critical to his survival.

Sadly, George's family has faced more than their fair share of health challenges. His brother also suffers from PSC, but his was detected at a much earlier stage, and his sister suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite his struggles, George remains positive and is thankful for the unwavering support of his family, including Susie, his wife of 32 years, their six children and two grandchildren. All of his children have undergone testing to be his living donor, and three were compatible matches. Doctors are hopeful his daughter, Haley, will be able to successfully donate a portion of her liver to her father.

To read more about George or to make a donation to NFT in his honor, please visit his web bio on the NFT site.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Successful Comedy Night for Mark Reedy!

NFT patient Mark Reedy's volunteers held a successful comedy night in his honor last month! The event raised nearly $1,500, and they had a great time! Mark is a stand-up comedian, so this was a perfect event for his friends and family to host.

The comedians with campaign co-chair, Kim.

Comedian Pete Lipsey

Comedian Michael Alexander

Comedian James Wesley Jackson


Comedian Bill Gorgo