Guest Speakers for Denver Support Group

Dr. Aryeh Fischer and Dr. David Collier will both be speakers at Denver Support Group meetings coming up. More...

Support Group and Board News

The Support Group meeting on March 1, 2008, welcomed several new members who came to get acquainted.  We welcome all newcomers and hope they will attend regularly.  We all need an understanding place to share information and experiences with patients, family and friends.

Actelion Pharmaceuticals has provided a Community Advocate Nurse, Marina Marcroft, R.N. who will be attending our Support meetings.  Marina was helpful with questions which came up about various issues, and we look forward to her continued participation.

The Board meeting was held following the Support meeting.  Among the topics discussed was the need to elect a new Executive Board and Committee Chairpersons.  The Chapter is looking into several options to fill these positions.  It was agreed that even though these positions are voluntary, we’re looking for people who will be able to fulfill the commitment and responsibility these positions entail.

If you are willing and able to help or want more details about the responsibilities, or know someone who can volunteer to help, please let us know by calling the Chapter phone, 303-806-6686.  Leave a message and someone will return your call promptly.   Or email us at cochapter@scleroderma.org.

Scleroderma Awareness Benefit

On March 11, 2008, the Denver Post ran a front-page article, written by Colleen O’Conner, about the Denver “indie” music scene.  Entitled “Banding together”, it tells how the local live-music rock bars, clubs and performers have come together, enlivening the once fractured underground music industry but also bringing together quality artists who support each other in many ways.

John Baxter, a music promoter who has scleroderma, has been pivotal in this resurgence.  He and his compatriots have seen a need and are filling it, not only with good punk, rock, experimental, hip-hop, jam, bluegrass and garage-blues music, but also with compassion and shared responsibility.   

John’s first promotion in Denver was a benefit performance for a young mother with breast cancer.  The benefit performances have continued, and now John is the beneficiary.  There was a “Scleroderma Awareness Benefit Show” for John at the Old Curtis Street Bar  in March and another upcoming on April 4, 2008 at the Hi Dive Lounge, located at 7 South Broadway, the show will begin at 8 p.m., so come out and show your support.

It benefits all scleroderma patients to have someone like John Baxter and his friends bring awareness of the disease, and grabbing front-page headlines to boot.  We are thankful for all their hard work and wish them continued success!

Dr. Fischer To Continue To Educate In 2008

The Rocky Mountain Chapter extends a well-deserved ‘thank you’ to Dr. Aryeh Fischer, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Rheumatology Division, at National Jewish Medical and Research Center.

Last year Dr. Fischer generously donated his time to do Continuing Medical Education (CME) presentations on scleroderma at local hospitals.  One of our missions as a Chapter is to bring education and awareness about scleroderma to the local community as well as health care professionals. 

Dr. Fischer’s presentations attracted capacity attendance and were well received at each of the hospitals.

This year, with the help of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Fischer will again be doing CME’s at local hospitals.  The locations and schedule have yet to be finalized.

Our Chapter is grateful for the generosity of both Dr. Fischer and Actelion in helping us bring information about scleroderma to the medical community.

2007 Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma 3K/5K Walk Rocky Mountain Chapter

On Saturday, June 2, 2007, the Scleroderma Foundation-Rocky Mountain Chapter held its 3rd Annual Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma 3K/5K Walk. It was a perfect summer morning for walkers to enjoy the reservoir and surrounding beauty as they followed the walk path through Cherry Creek State Park.

We are growing with each year and this year had 220 walkers, 100 more than last year. We raised over $17,000.00, also a new record!

Ditzy the Clown attended this year and helped with directing traffic into the Park. She also provided us with lots of laughs throughout the morning.

Thanks to our generous sponsors we again awarded prizes to the top three individual and team pledge raisers. This is where most of the grassroots donations come from for our Walk and we are grateful to those who work so hard to raise these funds:

Top Individual Pledge Raisers:
1st Place - Jennifer Doss - $1,525.00
2nd Place - Cassie Mostrom - $1,140.00
3rd Place - Betsy Craig - 746.00

Top Team Pledge Raisers:
1st Place - Team Rosey (Gailrose Baldwin) - $3,651.00
2nd Place - Cheryl's Footsloggers (Cheryl Elmore) - $1,675.00
3rd Place - Team Betsy (Betsy Craig) - $891.00

Our teams are in a healthy competition to out do each other so we hope to see them all return next year!

Also thanks to our sponsors, we held a raffle this year that raised over $250.00 in ticket sales. Our most coveted raffle item was a basketball autographed by each of the Denver Nuggets.

This event is dependent upon many volunteers who help not only at the Walk but also throughout the year with all the planning. Without these volunteers, there would be no Walks. The Rocky Mountain Chapter is sincerely thankful to those who give their time to make this annual event happen.

Now that our 3rd Walk is behind us we are already looking forward to 2008!

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