Rancho Santa Fe Unit of Children’s Hospital Auxiliary teams up with Henry’s Fund for walk

The Rancho Santa Fe Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital is teaming up with Henry’s Hemophiliacs for the Shamu & You Family Walk at Seaworld on Oct. 6 at 7:30 a.m. All proceeds will go to Henry’s Fund supporting the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego.

Henry Reif, 10, a Hemophilia B patient, and his parents, Tracy and Leo Spiegel, are the founders of Henry’s Fund. Hemophilia B, also known as Factor IX deficiency, is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting Factor IX. Without enough Factor IX, the blood cannot clot properly to control bleeding. Henry is one of only 3,300 people in the U.S. diagnosed with Hemophilia B, which translates to about one in 30,000 live male births. There is little reward for research and drug development and progress in treating the disease has been slow, according to research professionals at UCSD. The Spiegels’ goal is to support critical research and care in this area as it is not being funded by traditional channels.

Last year Henry’s team raised $47,000 with 148 walkers. This year Henry would like to have 200 team members and raise $50,000 or more. Henry’s Fund has raised over $400,000 in the last year for Rady Children’s Hospital. If you would like to join Henry’s team or donate please log onto www.rcha-rsf.org and click on the Shamu Walk tab. Make sure you pick Henry’s team.

Join Henry in support of the Rady Children’s Hospital and the Peckham Center. Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Sign up now at www.rcha-rsf.org; www.facebook.com/RCHARSFU