Month: September 2011

September 16, 2011

Clearwater, FL – AmeriLife Group, LLC owner, CEO and President Timothy North travelled to Tallahassee today to donate $25,000 to Kidz1stFund™, a research project established by Florida State University football coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife, Candi, raising money to find a cure for Fanconi anemia.

The Fishers’ son, Ethan, 6, is fighting Fanconi anemia, a genetic disorder that stunts the body’s production of bone marrow, and Ethan will need a bone marrow transplant.

“From the Seminoles’ football team volunteering to be tested (via cheek swabs) to see if they’re a potential match for Ethan, to businesses such as AmeriLife – which are in a position to contribute to this cause – people from around the country are rallying to support Ethan,” Mr. North said, before leaving for the capitol. “Children shouldn’t have to battle such diseases, and we’re hoping to advance research for a cure, a cure we hope will come sooner than later.”

Statistically, Fanconi anemia affects about 1 in 131,ooo people, and for every 38,000 people tested, perhaps one could be the ideal match as a bone marrow donor for Ethan. According to researchers, even if, for instance, one of the Seminole football players isn’t a match for Ethan, he may be able to help someone else with FA or the 70 other illnesses a bone marrow transplant can treat.

Kidz1stFund is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charity, providing support to families, as well as education and awareness of the disease. Additional information about the fund and research into Fanconi anemia may be found at www.Kidz1stFund.com.

For additional information on AmeriLife or Timothy North’s contribution to Kidz1stFund, please contact Public Communications Director Wayne Shelor at 727-726-0726 or by e-mail atwshelor@amerilife.com.