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| By Dan Cooper Staff Intern CHICOPEE - On August 26, Chicopee firefighter Dan Genie will host a fund-raiser at the Moose Family Center on Fuller Road to help raise awareness and funds for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF). "This is our fourth year doing this fund-raiser," Genie said to Reminder Publications. "We've raised $30,000 in the last three years so our goal this year is to raise at least another $10,000." Genie said the fund-raiser will be a picnic style luncheon that will feature a live band, fire and police apparatus and clowns from the Knights of Columbus. "We are still working on getting sponsors," he added. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m. rain or shine, according to Genie. "The Moose Lodge has a pavilion and a hall where we can hold it in the event of rain," he said. Tickets for the fund-raiser will be available for $10 beginning around April 18 and can be purchased on the day of the event, Genie said. "If anyone would like to help sponsor the event or donate for the raffle we'll be having, they can contact me," Genie said. Genie said he holds the fund-raiser because his son has a mitochondrial disease. "There are 200 different diagnosis but it essentially affects how he uses energy," Genie said. "My son is legally blind." Mitochondrial disease affects mostly children. It affects the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body but red blood cells. Mitochondria create more than 90 percent of the energy needed by the body to sustain life. If the mitochondria are failing, as they do suffering from mitochondrial disease, less energy is generated and cell injury or death can occur. The diseases cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney, and respiratory systems. Symptoms include loss of motor control, muscle weakness, swallowing difficulties, poor growth, cardiac disease, seizures, developmental delays, and visual/hearing problems. UMDF supports all sufferers of mitochondrial disease regardless of the diagnosis. Their mission is to promote research and education for diagnosis, treatment and a cure, of which there currently is none. Anyone would like to help support Genie can contact him at 330-7945 or 746-8171. If anyone would like more information about mitochondrial diseases, they can visit www.UMDF.org. |