Hope for Auto-Immune Rheumatic Diseases H.A.R.D.

To contact us Click HERE

Join us in honoring World Scleroderma Awareness Day and supporting the soft launch of our "HARD Skin" campaign. There will be food, drink Specials, a DJ, entertainment, giveaways and Prizes!
.
Why we are hosting the event:
Please like us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/curesclerodermaFollow us on Twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/HARDskin1

For more information visit, the Cure Scleroderma official website at www.curescleroderma.For tickets, click hereSee you on the 29th!
In 2001, our dad was experiencing shortness of breath. He went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Scleroderma of the lungs (essentially turning to stone) as well as Reynaud's Syndrome (being extremely cold all the time) and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) (scar tissue progressively building up inside his lungs). 10 years later, he was also diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) (stresses the heart and lungs until eventual failure). Just 3 years ago, we were drinking, laughing, traveling and playing golf. He is now confined to his home where he is on oxygen 24/7 and can't do much of anything except watch tv. He is 65 years young.What is Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is an autoimmune rheumatic disease whose symptoms typically include some or all of the following:

• sensitivity to cold in extremities
• thickening of the skin
• shortness of breath
• difficulty swallowing
• joint stiffness and pain
• damage to internal organs

• Autoimmune diseases, which affect more than 50 million Americans, are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
• 300,000 cases of Scleroderma are estimated in the United States. That's the same number of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

• 80% of Scleroderma patients are female.

• Scleroderma typically strikes between the ages of 25 and 55.

• 95% of Scleroderma cases begin with Raynaud’s Phenomenon (hands and feet abnormally sensitive to cold.)

• Research funding for Scleroderma lags behind other diseases of similar prevalence.

•Misdiagnosis is common. It can take three years or more for an individual to be diagnosed and receive appropriate treatment, often due to lack of familiarity with the disease among medical professionals.(source: http://www.scleroderma.org/pdf/SIPS/SIPFACTSLetter.pdf)There are two main types of Scleroderma:.Limited - Localized, contained, slow onset and progression. Usually affects the hands, skin, face.

Diffuse - Systemic, widespread, can affect vital organs such as lungs, heart and kidneys.

Source Click here Our mission is to raise awareness and money to help fund clinical trials related to Scleroderma, ILD, PH and Reynaud's. Our hope is to eventually find a cure for  and save our dad.