Leading National Genetics Foundation to Present Adapted Bikes to Tampa Area Children with Genetic Conditions at Heartwarming "Day of Caring"

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine and genetics professionals from around the world will be on hand to present bicycles to 17 local Tampa City-area children from the Muscular Dystrophy Association and F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Support, Inc. as part of the ACMG's 2016 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting and Conference in the Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall, Friday, March 11th at 10:30 a.m.

The annual ACMG Foundation Day of Caring is sponsored by the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a prominent national non-profit genetics foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland.

"How wonderful it is that ACMG Foundation is organizing an event that brings so much happiness to our children. Learning to ride a bike is a great joy in a child's life and a wonderful rite of passage that many of our children miss out on due to their muscular problems. The adaptive bikes give them back that rite of passage. Your ACMG Foundation "Day of Caring" is an awesome program and I hope your good deed continues to reach out to all children with genetic disorders for a long time to come," said Ann Foyt, President of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., a Down Syndrome Support Group in Tampa, Florida.

"On behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the families we serve, I am grateful to the ACMG Foundation for their generous donation of the adaptive bicycles for our local children living with neuromuscular disease. Our children face many challenges, along with a progressive disease, wherein the ability to ride a bicycle without modifications would not be possible. This program will afford our kids the opportunity to play with their siblings and friends without appearing to be different. The ability to just "play" and just be a kid is priceless," said Paula Orandash, Associate Director of Family Support and Clinical Care for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

"The medical genetics community is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with genetic conditions," said Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, President of the ACMG Foundation. "We are delighted that we can play a role in helping children with genetic conditions in the Tampa area.  What better way to demonstrate caring than by supporting children with a special surprise that helps them have some of the same experiences that their peers have."

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, whose theme is Better Health Through Genetics, supports education, research and a variety of other programs to translate genetic research into better health for all individuals.

The ACMG Foundation 2016 Day of Caring is supported by PerkinElmer, Shire, members of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics; mission to "translate genes into health" by raising funds to attract the next generation of medical geneticists and genetic counselors, to sponsor important research, to promote information about medical genetics, and much more.

ACMG Media Contact: Kathy Beal, MBA
[email protected]
301-238-4582

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

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