Home » About PRF

The MISSION of The Progeria Research Foundation:
To discover the cure and effective treatment for Progeria and its aging related disorders.
 
February 2010 
Hello everyone,

It’s so wonderfully busy here at the office that sometimes I literally stop in amazement – at the pace, the number and variety of things that we do here each day, and the joy at knowing how much we accomplish - moving closer and closer to our goal of treatments and a cure, with all of you leading the charge.

And how could Susan, Kyra and I not be busy?! Families of children with Progeria, volunteers and donors contact us every day, wanting to know how they can help, or needing help. We are so glad to be here, to answer such varied inquiries as:

  • Does my child have Progeria?
  • I’d like to sell wristbands for you.
  • Can you give me some information for a school report? I want my classmates to know about this disease.
  • I need to order cells from you for my research.
  • I’m writing an article on Progeria, can you answer a few questions for me?
  • Can you put me in touch with other families of children with Progeria for support?
So how is it possible that we have just completed a first-ever clinical drug trial that may treat children with Progeria ,and already started another?  We’ve only been in existence for 10 years! If you read PRF’s past newsletters and browse this web site, the answer becomes clear:

  • Families of children with Progeria are mobilizing their communities around the world, raising money and awareness from a wonderful variety of events.
  • Miracle Makers from all over the world – many with no personal connection to Progeria but who saw or read about these special children and just had to help – are joining PRF’s efforts in record numbers.
  • PRF’s Night of Wonder gala and road Race for Research get better every year, as past participants continue their support and new ones join in.
  • Researchers continue to collaborate and work tirelessly to produce the breakthroughs such as those that have led us to the trial.

The list goes on and on.

And I suppose I have to attribute some of our successes to sheer luck. As my sister Leslie would say, “The stars have aligned for us in so many ways.” So, with that luck, and thousands of the most dedicated people I could ever imagine, we find ourselves in the midst of an historical moment in time.

When we first began the $2 million dollar campaign to fund the trial, I was so excited! Because it’s the best ask to make: donate to something that may help children with a fatal disease live longer, healthier lives. And I was right; many people have contributed, saying “This trial has to happen.” As we press on to raise the remaining $600,000, I thank all of you who have helped bring us to this point, and invite you to continue to help us reach our goals – and realize our dreams.

You provide the momentum, and are a constant reminder that the work we are doing is vital to the families and to you, because each and every one of you, for many different reasons, want to save the lives of children with Progeria. You have all taken ownership of our mission and we gladly share it, because it is only Together that we WILL find the cure!

Onward and upward!

Sincerely,


Audrey Gordon
President, Executive Director
agordon@progeriaresearch.org