Story
On August 1st Adam and his Step Dad, Scott, embark on a fundraising journey which will come to an end on New Years Day.
Tonight they go clean shaven for the last time until 2016, they aren't allowed to trim... AT ALL.
And the purpose...? We hope that as their beards grow, so will the donations made towards Caring Matters Now, a charity very close to our family's heart!
Meet Elijah Cree who is now 15 months old;
On his behalf we will be fundraising for Caring Matters Now, a charity supporting families and research into a rare condition known as Congenital Melanocytic Nevi, which affects 1 in 20,000 children.
Elijah was born with a large black mark on his head, measuring 15x16cm. At first we were told it was a bruise, then a birthmark, and months later we were told it was CMN. Elijah now has 50-100 small marks all over his body, known as satellite Nevi. This condition causes hyper pigmentation of the skin- it is thought that the cell responsible for cell growth is 'stuck' ON, causing pigment to build and build.
It became clear then that this was a syndrome we were dealing with, and that there were other possible side effects related to CMN. With CMN there is a slight increased risk of melanoma, and to date every case of melanoma linked to CMN has been fatal.
There is also a neurological risk, that the hyperpigmentation would affect his brain and spine as well. Elijah underwent two MRI scans to determine whether the pigment was on his brain. The results showed that there was no pigment nor abnormalities on his brain.
Elijah is a healthy boy, he is full of gusto! But CMN proves to be N unpredictable and uncertain condition. Elijah is monitored 6 monthly in the ulster hospital, to ensure that his development is on course and that his marks are monitored for melanoma. Once a year we travel to Great Ormond Street London to see Dr Kinsler, a specialist in CMN, who is an expert in her field and leads research into the cause and cure of CMN.
Caring Matters Now fund Dr Kinsler's job as well as the research she conducts. Not only that,
Caring Matters Now supports and informs families like ours faced with a rare disease.
By sponsoring Adam and Scott you really will make a difference, not only in the appearance of their facial hair but in the outlook of medical research and the future!
Thank you!
Beards...be grown!
Tonight they go clean shaven for the last time until 2016, they aren't allowed to trim... AT ALL.
And the purpose...? We hope that as their beards grow, so will the donations made towards Caring Matters Now, a charity very close to our family's heart!
Meet Elijah Cree who is now 15 months old;
On his behalf we will be fundraising for Caring Matters Now, a charity supporting families and research into a rare condition known as Congenital Melanocytic Nevi, which affects 1 in 20,000 children.
Elijah was born with a large black mark on his head, measuring 15x16cm. At first we were told it was a bruise, then a birthmark, and months later we were told it was CMN. Elijah now has 50-100 small marks all over his body, known as satellite Nevi. This condition causes hyper pigmentation of the skin- it is thought that the cell responsible for cell growth is 'stuck' ON, causing pigment to build and build.
It became clear then that this was a syndrome we were dealing with, and that there were other possible side effects related to CMN. With CMN there is a slight increased risk of melanoma, and to date every case of melanoma linked to CMN has been fatal.
There is also a neurological risk, that the hyperpigmentation would affect his brain and spine as well. Elijah underwent two MRI scans to determine whether the pigment was on his brain. The results showed that there was no pigment nor abnormalities on his brain.
Elijah is a healthy boy, he is full of gusto! But CMN proves to be N unpredictable and uncertain condition. Elijah is monitored 6 monthly in the ulster hospital, to ensure that his development is on course and that his marks are monitored for melanoma. Once a year we travel to Great Ormond Street London to see Dr Kinsler, a specialist in CMN, who is an expert in her field and leads research into the cause and cure of CMN.
Caring Matters Now fund Dr Kinsler's job as well as the research she conducts. Not only that,
Caring Matters Now supports and informs families like ours faced with a rare disease.
By sponsoring Adam and Scott you really will make a difference, not only in the appearance of their facial hair but in the outlook of medical research and the future!
Thank you!
Beards...be grown!