Community Corner

New Trier Student Rocks Campaign to Cure Rare Disease

Sydney Martin has helped raised $158,000 for medical research of the rare blood disease Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

New Trier High School junior Sydney Martin, 16, is looking for something specific when she goes beachcombing in Wilmette --a cure for the rare blood disease Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH)Chicago Tribune reported.

The Wilmette resident, who was diagnosed with the rare disease at the age of 10, is doing well but continues to help with the search for a cure with her fundraising efforts through the Giving Rocks Foundation and will be hosting a walk in Michigan on Aug. 17 with the goal of collecting 8,000 rocks in one hour and have participants help make necklaces, the website reported.

Martin started her rock necklace business when she was 8 years old and so far the Syd Rocks for LCH campaign has raised some $158,000 and the foundation hopes to raise $250,000 by the end of 2013, according to the foundation’s website.

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LCH is often considered an “orphan” disease because there’s no government funding to research the best treatments and ultimately a cure, although Histiocytosis is not classified as cancer it requires some of the same treatments, according to the foundation’s website.

After a biopsy confirmed Martin’s LCH diagnosis, she underwent surgery to have a port implanted in her chest to receive six months of chemotherapy along with high doses of steroids, according to the foundation’s website.

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For more information about the walk or the Giving Rocks Foundation, visit: SydRocks.com.


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