community

Walk With A Purpose

October event to benefit
mast-cell disorder research.

S

arah Gittleman died from
mastocytosis in 2004 at age 23,
and her family once more will
host a walkathon to fight the mast cell
disease. The orphan disease affects fewer
than 200,000 people. Obtaining proper
medical or other services is hard because
of its rareness.
The fourth annual
walkathon will be
held Sunday, Oct. 2,
rain or shine, from the
Huntington Woods
Recreation Center.
On Feb. 21, 2004,
Sarah had a bad
reaction to medica-
Sarah
tion
and almost died.
Gittleman
During her recovery
stage, the family learned she had sys-
temic mastocytosis. Her family did
not know what it was, but they learned
quickly. Her symptoms increased and
by July, she was diagnosed with mast-
cell leukemia. She died on Dec. 21, 2004.
Since her death, the Gittleman fam-

ily — parents Barbara and Ted, sister
Laura; grandparents 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 non-
profit is dedicated to helping patients,
caregivers and health care professionals
understand cell disorders.
"Help save a life by supporting the
Mastocytosis Society campaign to fulfill
our mission to raise community aware-
ness and fund research:' said Sarah's
mother, Barbara. "Since our first walk,
we have raised over $50,000.”
There is no cure for mastocytosis;
treatment is limited to trying to con-
trol the symptoms. The disease affects
people of all ages.
Sarah was a Berkley High School and
Michigan State University graduate.
"Sarah had a wonderful job at a large
accounting firm and was working on
her master's while preparing for the
CPA exam:' her mother said. fl

Fresh Cut Flowers • Produce • Organic
Baked Goods • Kid's Crafts • Prepared Foods
Live Entertainment • Annuals & Peren Is .-

Signup for the walk, which begins at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the
Huntington Woods Recreation Center, 26325 Scotia Road. The 1.5-mile
walk is set for 10-11 am. Refreshments will be served. Donate at
http://tmsforacipower.com/fundraising/sarah_walk/sarah_gittleman.php .
For information, email: sarahswalk2011@gmail.com.

Young Sophie's Gift
Benefits Yad Ezra
As president of Yad Ezra, Richard
Simtob meets donors and volunteers
from all walks of life. So far, one of his
most gratifying experiences has been
meeting Sophie Hirsch, 8, who lives
in Huntington Woods with her two
sisters, Alyssa and Gabi, and parents
Lauren and Jonathan Hirsch.
Before leaving for Wooden Acres
Summer Camp in July, Sophie had to
go to her doctor for her annual physi-
cal. Upon leaving the doctor's office,
she found a large amount of cash near
where her mother had parked the car.
Sophie and her mother went back to the
doctor's office and left their name and
phone number, should anyone report the
missing money. No one called.
After some time, Sophie and her
mother began discussing what should
be done with the money that Sophie
found. A first suggestion was to put
the money in Sophie's bank account;
but after more discussion, Sophie
thought about the fact that the money
wasn't really hers, and so she shouldn't
benefit from the find. Sophie and
her family discussed other options,

Health Ne7V51

Learning

Sophie Hirsch of Huntington Woods with

Yad Ezra President Richard Simtob

including possibly donating the
money to a charity.
Because Sophie and her sisters all
have serious food allergies, which
require a lot of attention to food
purchase and meal preparation, they
thought of Yad Ezra. Sophie's older sis-
ter had volunteered at Yad Ezra in the
past and the family was knowledgeable
about how it helps so many vulnerable
families in the community.
Sophie says she chose Yad Ezra
because she likes food and she liked
the idea of giving money to buy food
for families so that everyone has
enough to eat.

Learning water safety skills and how to swim is
a life-long process. Year-round perpetual swim
lessons is a must for teaching young children the
importance of water safety and awareness.

(4 months - 12 years of age)

(Offered on Saturdays
throughout the year)

(Offered Mon. - Thurs. and on
Sundays throughout the year)

(Weekdays from 12:00pm-1:00pm
& Fridays from 6:30pm - 8:00pm)

Pre-register for lessons online
at goldfishswimschoolcom

Where the experience Is

Now Franchising a GOLDEN! experience
at goldfishfranchise.com

golden.

Birmingham (248) 644-1974
Farmington Hills (248) 596-1914
Ann Arbor (734) 864-5555 Call now to register!
Coming to Rochester, Clarkston
& Grand Rapids in 2012!

September 15 • 2011

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