help us support the Team Zoey spin-a-thon!

by Alison Qualter Berna

Next Sunday, February 8th, my daughters Maddie and Sydney will join me in the Team Zoey spin-a-thon in NJ to raise money for the Progeria Research Foundation. Progeria is the extremely rare and always fatal “rapid aging” disease. Children with Progeria typically die of a heart attack or stroke in their early teens. My friend Barbara’s niece, Zoey, was diagnosed with Progeria. Zoey is 5 years old, my son Jack’s age, and is all happiness…a little ray of light who comes to the event and keeps us motivated through the four and a half hours of sweat and purpose.

Zoey - age 5

Alison and friends

This is the third year in a row I’ve participated in this spin-a-thon. In addition to Progeria’s direct impact on my friend’s family, the reason I keep spinning and fundraising for this cause is because the money and research are making a concrete difference. 2014 was a year of exciting progress, including the discovery that the trial drug lonafarnib is giving children with Progeria longer lives.

Maddie and Sydney are over the moon to be old enough to spin and help make a difference in finding a cure (their feet can finally reach the pedals!) You can help the three of us by making a donation to the Progeria Research Foundation. Please know that any amount, big or small, makes a difference and we are extremely grateful.

Maddie, Sydney, and the team

Here are the links to our personal pages:

http://tz.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13971/regPages/pledge/sydneyberna

http://tz.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13971/regPages/pledge/maddieberna

http://tz.dojiggy.com/ng/index.cfm/13971/regPages/pledge/berna1

If you want to also spin with us, there may still be a few bikes available! Let us know…

With gratitude for your support,

Alison