STAMFORD, Conn. -- The Rex Griswold Foundation recently launched #DanceForMSA, a social media challenge to help raise awareness and funds for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
MSA (previously known as Shy-Drager syndrome) is a rare and fatal disorder with less than 15,000 Americans diagnosed and 35,000 undiagnosed at any given time. MSA has no identified cause, disease-modifying treatments or a cure.
In 2014, a group of colleagues and friends of Rex Griswold, a senior executive at Nestle Waters, North America in Stamford, Conn., formed The Rex Griswold Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to help find a cure for MSA. This organization intends to help fight this deadly disease, as well as honor the courage and inspiring determination of Rex Griswold who is not only fighting this disease himself but is working to raise money and awareness for MSA, all in an effort to provide a cure and hope for others.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “MSA affects both men and women primarily in their 50s. MSA tends to advance rapidly over the course of nine to 10 years, with progressive loss of motor skills, eventual confinement to bed and death.”
To join the fight against MSA, take a video of yourself dancing with your friends, family or co-workers, holding up a sign #DanceForMSA. You will have 25 hours from nomination to donate $25 at danceformsa.org, challenge five friends and upload your video to Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram, tagging #DanceForMSA.
“Dancing is an expression of physical mobility, the same mobility that MSA attacks. Despite this devastating and deadly disease, our courageous friend Rex and many patients affected by MSA are showing that dancing can still be joyous, meaningful and a huge social connector,” said Maria Barton, executive director for the Rex Griswold Foundation.
Proceeds from #DanceForMSA will fund MSA research, including genetic studies at the Phoenix-based nonprofit Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix-based nonprofit organization focused on developing earlier diagnostics and smarter treatments.
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