Ryan's Quest News!!

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As a teacher, I would be remiss to not teach my students about the customary lessons this time of year-The First Thanksgiving and the lives of the Pilgrims and Indians. However, this year, I decided to focus the theme around NEEDS VS. WANTS.

So many children think that they NEED a 3DS, an XBOX, an American Girl Doll or a new bike. I explained that a NEED is something we can't live without, like food, water, shelter, and medicine. On the other hand, a WANT is something we would just really like to have. Many people share these same basic needs. However, we all have very distinct wants.

I explained to my students that the Pilgrims couldn't survive without the corn they found hidden by the Indians or the houses they made with their own hands. They couldn't live without fresh water or medicine to battle terrible illnesses. As I spoke these words, I paused for a moment and realized that families that are affected by Duchenne, so closely parallel those families during the time of the First Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims did not WANT for anything that wasn't NEEDED...

Our WANT is truly our NEED...

WE NEED MEDICINE AND WE NEED IT FAST!!!

The pilgrims lost many lives due to the absence of medicine...
just as a boy with Duchenne loses his life everyday for the very same reason.

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Your Contributions in Action!

Since Ryan's diagnosis we have decided to make every moment in our lives count...and through Ryan's Quest we make every dollar count!

Your generosity this past year has allowed us to make some remarkable contributions that will have a dramatic impact on research for Duchenne. We have been working tirelessly with our advisors and other Duchenne Alliance organizations in order to move the research forward and collaborate more efficiently in our efforts to save our boys in this race against time. We are very excited to introduce our latest contributions to research.

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Kennedy Krieger Institute, John Hopkins School of Medicine

Ryan's Quest is pleased to announce an award to Kathryn Wagner, MD, PhD, of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland a $76,500 grant that will ease the financial burden of families who are participating in the REVERSE-DBMD (Revatio for heart disease in Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies) trial. "By providing a travel grant, we hope to facilitate recruitment of participants and fill the trial to its capacity, thereby providing reliable and valid outcomes."

Read Press Release

Duchenne Dashboard

During the past few months we have also had the opportunity to assist in funding the development of the Duchenne Dashboard which is a web portal designed to optimize research funding strategies worldwide by connecting DMD researchers, scientists with nonprofit foundations dedicated to funding research in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The main goal of the Dashboard is to provide funding faster to scientists and allow for more thorough reviews of these projects by scientist on the Dashboard.

University of Washington

RQ was also able to Support Professor Hannele Ruohola-Baker's lab at the University of Washington to assist in purchasing a critical piece of equipment (Strip Myograph) that will allow the lab to perform critical functional experiments to further assess potential compounds as a therapy for muscular dystrophy.

University of Minnesota

This contribution will assist James Ervasti Ph.D. in further exploration of the biophysical properties of dystrophin proteins.

Ryan's Quest in Black & White

Ryan's Quest is pleased to announce that First Choice Bank will be sponsoring the 3rd Annual Ryan's Quest Ball at the Westin Princeton. This semi-formal event is the perfect opportunity to bring your loved one or a friend out for some excitement, entertainment, and elegance! The evening includes a cocktail hour, full course served meal with a land and sea duet, 5 hour open bar, live entertainment, photobooth, and a presentation from 20 bakeries & cake designers of the tri-state area competing for the title "Ryan's Quest's Most Loved Cake of 2012" to be commentated on by some special guest judges!

To purchase tickets to this event please click here

If you are interested in supporting this event through our program book or sponsorship opportunities, please click here

Happy Fall to one and all...

It's time to get on the BALL with some early

Holiday Shopping!

Toys, jewelry & gifts galore,
See what the community has in store...

Learning Express, Trent Jewelers & Hamilton United Tae Kwon Do...
Perhaps you'll find those perfect gifts for those you love and know.

You'll be shopping a lot in the upcoming season,
But this kind of shopping has yet another reason...

You'll be warming some hearts with the gifts that you send,
And helping us with our "holiday wish" to end Duchenne!

Please consider visiting:

The Learning Express in the Shoppes at Hamilton on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 during the hours of 4-9pm. 20% of the sales will be donated back to Ryan's Quest.

View info here

Trent Jewelers Looking to purchase a gift of jewelry this holiday season? Ryan's Quest is happy to announce an exciting holiday promotion! Trent Jewelers will contribute 20% of the proceeds from your purchase to Ryan's Quest, and save you 10%.View coupon here

United Tae Kwon Do Academy- Join UTA for a month at a special introductory price of $49 (child) or $99 (family). Your payment will be donated directly to Ryan's Quest!

What a neat idea for the holidays!View info here

Online Shopper Option!-For those of you who take advantage of the convenience of online shopping, especially over Thanksgiving Weekend, please consider using KarmaWell. A percentage of all your purchases will be given to Ryan's Quest. All you need to do is click this link and shop away! http://karmawell.com/rec/drtseng_ryansquest

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A very special THANKS to The Devin Group, Inc. of Hamilton Township for generously providing Ryan's Quest some much needed office space. www.devingroupinc.com

Wishing you and your families a very happy & healthy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your continued support,

David & Maria Schultz