$200K For SMA: Less Than 2 Months After Launch, Campaign Tops $100,000!

We think it's time to stop…take a deep breath…take a step back…and reflect on a pretty extraordinary accomplishment by a very special group of passionate people.Think about this for a minute.Less than TWO months afterlaunching our “$200K For SMA” fundraising campaign in support of promising SMA focused gene therapy research at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, friends, families, colleagues, coworkers, communities, and total strangers across the country — some impacted by SMA and many not — have come together to organize and execute an impressive laundry list of wonderful fundraisers totaling over — DRUM ROLL PLEASE — One Hundred Thousand Dollars. That's right. $100,000!!!In…just…TWO…months.

There's just no other way to say it — what's happening here is incredible, inspiring, and humbling. And we are personally honored to be part of all of this positivity — it fuels us to push forward and do more. At our core, we've always believed in the power of the individual. And as individuals, if we collectively work together in a positive, productive fashion, we can have an enormous impact and change the status quo.

We are so proud of all of the people involved in this project! Our “$200K For SMA” campaign goal was to raise $200,000 by the end of 2010. We're well on our way to achieving that milestone together and being a material part of moving this promising research from the lab to the clinic. This research is not a sprint, it's a marathon and this campaign is a critical investmentin continuing this important relay race in helping bring this research to those impacted by this cruel disease.

Thank you for your continued support of GSF and most importantly thank you to each and every one of the following people and groups involved in the fundraisers that have made this first $100,000 a reality so quickly and the many people already committed to helping make that second $100,000 possible. You are all making a difference in this fight! Together we can end SMA — one person and one dollar at a time!

  • GSF: General Donations: $15,000
  • Belmont Elementary School Penny Harvest – In Memory of Owen Shuler: $830
  • Burks Family: Jadon's Hope Wristbands – In Honor of Jadon Burks: $1,500
  • Zahn Family: To Shave or Not To Shave – In Honor of Lucy Zahn: $13,000
  • Stephen Taylor: 100 Miles 4 Owen – In Memory of Owen Simmons: $11,600
  • GSF: Cold Springs Elementary School: $665
  • Beb-e-ssentials: $1,000
  • Beb-e-ssentials: Strawberry Festival Duck Race: $1,000
  • Germantown First Church of God: Vacation Bible School: $500
  • Real Estate for A Cure: $1,598
  • Lauren Lundy O'Connor: Team Run 4 Owen – In Memory of Owen Shuler: $2,787
  • Lamont Family Garage Sale – In Honor of Hayden McIntyre: $2,000
  • David Price: Tri for SMA – In Honor of Gwendolyn Strong: $2,261
  • GSF: May Day Sidewalk Sale: $5,000
  • GSF: In Honor of Isaac Portugal's 1st Birthday: $631
  • GSF: In Honor of Margaret Deakyne's 1st Birthday: $450
  • Steve Churchill – In Memory of Zane Schmid: $10,000
  • Step Up For Stephen – In Memory of Stephen John Ruocco: $410
  • Webster Family: Live, Laugh, Breathe Carnival – In Memory of Makenzie Rye Webster: $15,081
  • GSF: Jimmie Johnson Foundation Helmet of Hope: $10,000
  • Beasley-Wright Family: Through Eli's Eyes Walk – In Memory of Eli Beasley-Wright: $450
  • Tri to Fight SMA – In Memory of Zane Schmid: $380
  • Gustafson Family In Honor of Nicholas Gustafson: ECFR Poker Tournament: $750
  • GSF: Taffy's Pizza Fundraiser: $185
  • Golden Family – In Honor of Callie Golden: $200
  • Harman Family – In Memory of Logan Harman: $285
  • In Honor of Drew Draz: $338
  • Molly's Mommy Friends – In Memory of June Marie Howsden: $1,588
  • GSF: ShopToEndSMA.com: $750
  • Gooden Family – In Honor of Nora Gooden: Picky Chick Consignment Sale: $1,441
  • Team Lucy's Legs – In Honor of Lucy Zahn: $125

Click HERE to check out the “$200K For SMA” campaign page with the most up to date information on its progress or to find out how to get involved. And stay tuned for tons of fun ways to help!!!