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Research for Eosinophilic Disorders (R.F.E.D.) is an Illinois not for profit corporation that was organized exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes. R.F.E.D’s mission is to support research for eosinophilic disorders and act as an advocate for families living with the disease. The organization is dedicated to providing research funding in order to improve diagnosis procedures and treatment for eosinophilic disorders, and to increase awareness and the availability of information on the disease. Eosinophilic disorders occur when an excessive number of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, accumulate in certain parts of the body. The proliferation of eosinophils may result from a number of causes, such as food allergies and parasitic infections. Eosinophils play a role in the body’s immune response, and help fight off certain infections by migrating to the infected area and releasing a variety of toxins. However, when the body produces too many eosinophils, chronic inflammation and eventual tissue damage may result. The body’s reaction can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, rapid weight loss, and long-term damage to the digestive system. Eosinophilic disorders are diagnosed according to the area of the body where the high level of eosinophils is detected. The names of some of the more common types of eosinophilic disorders (and which area of the body each affects) are: eosinophilic esophagitis (esophagus), eosinophilic gastritis (stomach), eosinophilic enteritis (small intestine), eosinophilic colitis (large intestine), and hypereosinophilic syndrome (blood and any organ). Even though eosinophilic disorders have gained recent media attention, many patients go undiagnosed for years due to a lack of awareness and diagnosis criteria. The difficulty in diagnosis also results from the similarity between eosinophilic disorders and other gastrointestinal ailments. The treatment for eosinophilic disorders varies for each specific type of disorder. Some common treatments are food avoidance and formula tube feeding. Although medication is prescribed for severe cases, the drugs often have detrimental side effects, like growth retardation and increased infections. There is no cure for eosinophilic disorders. Currently, there are an estimated 50,000 people who suffer from eosinophilic disorders in the United States alone, and possibly many more who have been misdiagnosed. R.F.E.D. plans to conduct its own fundraising activities and also plans on soliciting schools to be the beneficiary of their fundraising activities. Such fundraising activities that R.F.E.D. plans to conduct include the following: mail solications, website donations, email solications, personal solications and fundraising activities such as walk-a-thons, jump-rope-a-thons, golf outings, races, car washes, spaghetti dinners, silent auctions,†or possibly a Martial Arts board breaking contest.† All fundraising activities will be organized by the board of directors and will be conducted on a voluntary basis. R.F.E.D. will use fundraising proceeds to benefit local hospitals, universities, and other 501(c)(3) organizations engaged in conducting research for eosinophilic disorders. Namely, R.F.E.D. will provide research grants to such institutions. Research in this area is crucial to provide for more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Hopefully, such efforts will result in an eventual cure. R.F.E.D. also intends to use fundraising proceeds to assist families that are struggling to pay for medical care for eosiniphilic disorders; such support will consist of the payment of approved medical expenses. |
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Copyright © 2008 RFED
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