From undiagnosed to climbing Mt. Everest!

[Cindy]

Today (the 3rd anniversary of my diagonsis) Larry, Teshia, and I went to the 2010 Vasculitis Symposium in Long Beach, CA where I was the Motivational Speaker. As it turns got I was very inspired by the room filled with the hundreds of people attending this event. On Friday I had a meeting with the speakers' coordinator, Dianne. I had asked to see the room where I would be speaking so I could get an idea of the set-up. At the time where was a meeting in-session. I asked what the session was: it was the group discussion on Wegener's. It was amazed by how many people where in the room: maybe 100. I had never met, in person, one other person with WG. WOW!

[JanW]

One of those people was me!

[elephant]

Cindy so glad you made to the conference and you are an inspiration! I will go in 2012!

[Cindy]

One of those people was me!

Jan, I wish you would have come and talked with me!!!!!!!

[Cindy]

VF Research Funding Report Med.jpg

The Vasculitis Foundation used a picture of my climb for the cover of their Research Funding Report. It was taken at Camp 4 (26,000 ft) just hours before we left for the summit. I hope this gets some researchers attention

[jola57]

Cindy, that looks great. Who gets these reports and what are they for do you know. Is it for whoever is to support the research such as government or pharmaceutical companies?

[elephant]

I love the cover Cindy, thanks for all that you do to support Wegs disease and the Vasculitis Foundation.

[marta]

I love it Cindy. Truly inspirational!!!

[Palmyra]

Cindy,

I am the mother of a lovely daughter that was diagnosed with Weg in 2006. She is currently doing well.

I too, would love to bring attention to the Vasculitis Foundation in some manner. I am drawn to your message because I am 50, and I am a "junior" mountaineer, with a few 14,000 and 13,000 foot peaks under my belt. I don't think I have the means to cover the territory you have, but I would love to take this message with me each time I summit my own small peaks. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Yours,
Jane, mom of Alison, Crohn's '99, WG'06

PS, I have been away from the site for awhile, as I just bagged 3 more peaks!

[Cindy]

Cindy, that looks great. Who gets these reports and what are they for do you know. Is it for whoever is to support the research such as government or pharmaceutical companies?

Hi Jolanta, I cannot tell from the actual report (I have a copy). Also, I cannot find it on the VF website, but sometimes things are difficult to locate on-line. I can say the report is an amazingly informative document stated past and present research and grant information.