Hemophilia of Georgia to Host Three Trot to Clot Walk and Run Events to Raise Money for Camp for Kids Who Have Bleeding Disorders
February 20, 2013
Hemophilia of Georgia will host three Trot to Clot Walk and Run events this year: at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta on April 20, at Savannah Rapids Park in Augusta on May 4, and at Rotary Park in Columbus on September 28. These fun, family-centered events will raise money to fund Camp Wannaklot, the only camp in Georgia that gives kids and teens who have inherited bleeding disorders the chance to have fun, learn new skills, and be with other kids just like them. Most importantly, Camp Wannaklot campers learn how to manage their own treatment.
Children who are born with severe hemophilia usually get three infusions of clotting factor medication every week. That’s more than 2,500 shots by the time they grow up. These kids aren’t allowed to play contact sports like football because the risk of injury is too great. But at Camp Wannaklot they can ride the giant swing, climb the rock wall, and go down the zip line.
At Camp Wannaklot, held at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, GA, kids who have bleeding disorders learn what they can do. And often, the kids learn how to give themselves those injections of clotting factor so they aren’t dependent on their parents or nurses to get the medication they need to stay healthy.
According to Vic McCarty, Hemophilia of Georgia Director of Development, “people who participate in the Trot to Clot Walk and Run will help to ensure that Camp Wannaklot will continue to offer kids who have bleeding disorders the opportunity to share new experiences, make new friends, and develop the skills they need to become independent. We hope to raise $70,000 for Camp Wannaklot through the Trot to Clot Walk and Run events this year.”
Trot to Clot Walk and Run information and registration details are available online at www.hog.org/trot.
Organizations interested in corporate sponsorship are asked to contact Lorraine Scollan at 770 518-8272 or ljscollan@hog.org.
About Hemophilia of Georgia
Hemophilia of Georgia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services and support for people who have hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and other inherited bleeding disorders. The only agency of its kind in the state, Hemophilia of Georgia works to enhance clients’ care and quality of life while actively pursuing a cure through research funding. HoG’s nonprofit pharmacy provides convenient home delivery of clotting factor and other medications at competitive prices. Hemophilia of Georgia exists so that people affected by bleeding disorders live as normally and productively as possible. Additional information is available online at www.hog.org.
About Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a hereditary genetic disorder in which a person’s blood is not able to clot normally. In normal blood, proteins called clotting factors work together to form a clot whenever bleeding occurs. The person with hemophilia lacks or doesn’t have enough of a certain clotting factor so the blood can’t make a clot. Hemophilia is a very rare disorder, affecting about 17,000 people in the United States. People with hemophilia stop bleeding by taking an injection of the clotting factor that is missing from their blood. However, the clotting factor used to treat hemophilia is very expensive.