Events

NF Center Heads to FuNFest!

img_1260The 6th annual FuNFest was held a month earlier this year.  The date was moved up by the hosts, Amanda and Brian Walk, in the hopes of a sunny, fall Saturday afternoon. Their decision was a smart one as the fundraiser went off without a hitch on Saturday, September 10th, 2016, near Gatch Lake in Vandalia, IL. Even thunderstorms for 24 hours before the event couldn’t stop them from moving forward. The Washington University NF Center staff and some local families took “The Big Red Bus” to FuNFest to join in the fun! The NF Center sponsored a wind chime making activity which strengthened fine motor skills while creating a lasting memento of the day.  The activity was a big hit among kids of all ages!
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FuNFest is a family-friendly festival designed to create awareness about NF1 and to raise funds for NF1 research. The event includes games, bounce houses, music, a live auction, silent auction bidding, and the infamous “Cow Patty Bingo!” All proceeds raised at FuNFest are donated to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation/Washington University NF Center to fund laboratory research.
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NF1 is a common genetic disorder, occurring in about one in every 2,500 births.  This complex genetic disorder can affect almost every organ system in the body, causing a predisposition for tumors to grow on nerves in the brain and throughout the body. While there is no cure for NF1, researchers and clinicians are working tirelessly to understand more about the origins of this disorder and solutions for improving life with NF1.
We had a great day with the Walk family, their friends, family and community!  We want to thank the Walks for all the effort they put into hosting this well planned and much-anticipated event.  And, we especially want to thank them for inviting the Washington University NF Center and our families to join them.  Already, we look forward to the seventh annual FuNFest in September of 2017!