Editor's Note: The following letter is about an event held to help Idic15 Canada, which is a not-for-profit organization that provides resources, collaboration, advocacy and research to families living with Chromosome 15q11-13 Duplication Syndrome. This disease is hard to diagnose in kids, and has a very high rate of death. In many instances it is misdiagnosed as autism.
Therese McKirdy (Barriere) has an adopted little boy with the chromosome, and has been an incredible strong person in forming the group, the website, and the fundraising initiatives. She has also got specialists across Canada talking and working on the problem.
Editor, The Times:
Thank you to our Barriere, Clearwater and other area horse enthusiasts. We were absolutely thrilled to have all of you at our first Idic15 Poker Ride fundraiser last weekend, even though the weather was a bit wet.
To our Virtual Hand supporters, we thank you also from our hearts for your support even though you could not be there in person.
Members of the B.C. Backcountry Horseman camped at our starting point and were gracious and supporting.
Butch and Connie Falk generously supplied maps for our riders. The Fishtrap Equine campsite is a wonderful venue, and many hours of labour by the Backcountry Horsemen and team is evident.
Area merchants supplied raffle items. Lisa at the Star Journal demonstrated wonderful imagination in our poster. The Star Journal gave continuous support.
We are much closer to reaching our goal of having enough to fund our first micro-grant to bring together our group of 12 medical specialists who will strive to write management protocols for medical issues with our Idic15 children.
We will have a second Poker Ride in September. For more information or to keep up to date, please visit www.idic15canada.ca
Therese McKirdy and Lori Eisehauer
Founders, Idic15