Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Hospital to raise awareness on sickle cell disorder
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark has launched an initiative in collaboration with Pittsburgh Hospital to raise awareness about sickle cell trait illness and help generate funds to be contributed towards research and measures for finding a cure, and
increase level of care for the people who are suffering from it, including the player himself.
Ryan, who is amongst two million Americans who have the rare genetic cell blood disorder, has also established a charitable organisation bearing his name that will concentrate and coordinate fund raising and other steps towards tackling of the disease.
The player, the Steelers said, will not be a part of the side for the season opener against Broncos this Sunday because of the high altitude of Denver, which can aggravate his problem, as it did in 2007.
Both sides while confirming launch of the initiative said it will focus education, awareness raising campaign, fund raising and a possible contribution to researchers in all forms to help find a cure of the illness.
Ryan’s situation was aggravated in a road game against the Broncos in 2007 and as a result of it he lost his spleen and remained out of the side for the entire season before regaining full fitness.
Although two million is a sizable figure, the level of awareness about the disease is not as much as it is in case of some other genetic disorders. This is one of the reasons that so far no serious effort has been made at any level to find a treatment of
the disease.
Under the collaboration now, researchers at the hospital and the player hope it will help promote the cause, especially increase the level of awareness in the US and the world.
It is rather encouraging that the player instead of hiding the issue has come out to help others. The hospital authorities are particularly pleased with the fact that the player has vowed to help tackle the issue of funding, which is the main hurdle in the
way of research and development of solution for it. Ryan is confident about successful progress of the initiative.
Tags: