I
Health & Fitness
WELLNESS
Walk For A Cause
Benefit supports mast cell disorder research.
F
or the third straight year, a local
family will host a walkathon to
fight mastocytosis, a mast cell
disease that can be life threatening.
The orphan disease affects fewer than
200,000 people. Obtaining proper medi-
cal or other services is hard because of
the rareness of the disease.
On Feb. 21, 2004, Sarah Gittleman
was diagnosed with systemic mastocy-
tosis. Her family did not know what it
was, but they learned quickly. Over the
next four months, Sarah's symptoms
increased. By July, she was diagnosed
THE PARK
LIVING
with mast cell leukemia. She died on
Dec. 21, 2004.
Since her death, the Gittleman fam-
ily — parents Barbara and Ted; sister
Laura; grandmothers Natalie, Victor
and Ilene Gittleman; uncles and aunts
Neal, Douglas, Sheryl Victor and
Adrienne Sheinwald, Ellen and
Jack Tucker and Shelly Rossmoore
— has become active with the
Mastocytosis Society.
The nonprofit is dedicated to
helping parents, caregivers and
health care professionals under-
stand cell disorders. It is a grass-
roots organization with staff that
either has mast cell disorders or
knows someone who does.
"It has been our family mission
to bring community awareness
and find a cure for this debilitat-
ing disease," said Sarah's mother,
Barbara.
She added, "It is our hope that
we can support research that may
someday save lives. We are reach-
ing out to the community at large
to help support this very impor-
Sarah Gittleman
tant cause?'
No one can understand what it is like
to live with an incurable disease except
for the people living with it, she said.
The disease affects infants, adoles-
cents and adults. There is no known
cure.
Treatment is limited to trying to con-
trol the symptoms associated with the
disease.
The walk will be Sunday, Oct. 3, rain or shine, from the Huntington Woods
Recreation Center, 26325 Scotia Road. Registration: 9:15 a.m. Event:10-11
a.m. (1.5-mile walk). Refreshments.
Donations may be made directly through www.mastowalk.org/
sarahswalk.shtml.
E-mail: sarahswalk2010@gmail.com
The Mastocytosis Society is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization.
Donations are tax-deductible.
"I JUST DECIDED THAT
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE
ALONE ANYMORE:'
aking new friends is one of life's greatest pleasures.
Residents of The Park at Trowbridge often become re-
energized with a whole new zest for life as they make new
friends with people their own age, people they can relate to.
Temple Boutiques And Fashions
See for yourself why seniors living at The Park at Trowbridge
experience an invigorating sense of independence, freedom
and optimism.
Temple Israel Sisterhood will pres-
ent its annual Donor Luncheon and
Fashion Show on Wednesday, Oct. 20.
Vendors will feature a variety of
clothing, jewelry and home acces-
sories. The show will include adult
fashions as well as fashions modeled
by the youngest congregants. There
will be raffle prizes.
• Boutiques 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. —
no entrance fee
• Luncheon at noon followed by a
fashion show — $36 for patrons 36
and younger; $50 for other patrons
Guests welcome.
I Your story continues here...
Y
coe
at Trowbridge
24111 Civic Center Drive
Southfield, MI 48033
For more information or
to visit, call today!
(248) 352-0208
HORIZON BAY
ItTlIZIA(NT
I www.horizonbay.com I
1606460
48
September 16 • 2010
• Babysitting will be available for
children older than 18 months, 11
a.m. to 3 p.m., with reservation only,
$15 per child. Call Risa Levinson:
(248) 538-8448.
Reservations by Wednesday, Oct.
6. Make checks payable to Temple
Israel Sisterhood. Mail to Risa
Levinson, 6864 Trailview Court, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322.
For information, contact Risa at
(248) 538-8448 or Levinson.Risa@
gmail.com .