I have a bleeding disorder and am a member of Bleeding Disorders Foundation of North Carolina. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of persons affected by bleeding disorders through advocacy, education, promotion of research, and delivery of supportive programs and services. Every dollar makes a difference. Give what you can to support our cause.
Top 5 Reasons to Support the BDFNC Family Festival & Walk
# 5 - We are a leading advocate for health care reform that helps to benefit everyone. Dealing with a chronic illness is difficult and can strike any family at any time. Worrying about how to pay the medical bills and retain insurance is something that no one should have to face, particularly if you suffer from a chronic illness!
# 4 - We help support the local community and thousands of families across the state that are affected by a bleeding disorder. We provide educational resources, scholarships, emergency financial assistance, peer support groups, assist with summer camps for children, and many more programs & services to the residents of North Carolina. All your money stays local!
# 3 - Over 80,000 residents in North Carolina are affected by a bleeding disorder, and most don’t even know it. One to 2% of the population is affected by the most common type of bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease (VWD). Although VWD occurs in men and women equally, women are more likely to notice the symptoms because of complications with their menstrual cycle and childbirth. Even though the symptoms of VWD are caused by a problem with the blood, it is frequently misdiagnosed as a gynecologic problem by doctors who are not familiar with the condition. In fact, it is believed that many of the more than 30,000 women who have hysterectomies performed every year to treat severe bleeding might actually have a bleeding disorder which, in most cases, can be treated effectively without surgery. We help to provide the education needed to identify VWD.
# 2 – North Carolina has long been recognized as a preeminent leader in hemophilia research. UNC-Chapel Hill and the contributions of Drs. Brinkhous, Roberts, White, and others have had a major impact worldwide, on the knowledge of hemophilia and the care and treatment for the disorder. Today, leading research continues to take place at centers throughout the state including UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, East Carolina University, St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital, the Hemophilia Treatment Center at Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s, and Duke University. We are proud to be world leaders in the treatment and research of hemophilia with the ability to transform the quality of life for so many children!
#1 – If you or a family member suffers a tragic accident and requires a blood transfusion, you can be confident that the product is safe and free of blood borne diseases. The hemophilia community was devastated in the 1980’s when blood donations were contaminated with the HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C viruses. Over 90% of Americans with severe hemophilia became infected with AIDS and 100% became infected with Hepatitis C. Today, products are safer and blood donations are put through a stringent battery of tests as a result of laws advocated for by the hemophilia community. The community members continue to be ‘canaries in the coal mine’ for bloodborne pathogens and monitor the safety of blood collection processes very closely.