08-20-2010, 10:55 AM
Dear Hipbase,
I'm hoping for some support from the hipbase to help raise funds for research and awareness of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Just over two years ago on August 19, 2008 my eighteen-year-old brother, Mark Vandermeer, suddenly passed away due to the effects of HCM. I was 19 at the time and was unfortunately the one who had to find him in his bed the morning he died. In his memory we are holding the second annual Mark Vandermeer Memorial Golf Tournament. In it’s first year alone we were able to raise over $15,000 with all proceeds going directly to support HCM research at Toronto General Hospital and a scholarship set up through Courtice Secondary School.
HCM is basically a thickening of the cardiac muscle of the heart, this causes strain on the heart and in the worst situation death. Often the only reason that it's found a person has HCM is their heart stops and they either die or get rushed to the hospital in a near death experience. HCM is the leading cause of death among young athletes. As was the case with my brother they often appear to be the picture of health taking part in competitive athletics (my brother played rep hockey, rugby and lacrosse for his entire life) only to die abruptly and with out warning. It can be detected with a simple echocardiogram and if found measures can be taken to prevent sudden death.
With the hipbase, I was basically wondering whether anyone out there would like to contribute whether it be financially (tax deductible) or through any kind of gift donation that can be used for numerous raffles or the silent auction we will be holding. Anything donated through a business will be stated as such giving it some cheap advertising among a heavily 18-25 crowd. Anybody with any questions or comments can either PM me or send me an email at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:07vander@utsc.utoronto.ca">07vander@utsc.utoronto.ca</a><!-- e -->
I'd like to attach a letter of support from Toronto General Hospital and one from the tournament organizers (who also happen to be my parents) but the forum isn't allowing the attachment of any .doc or PDF files, if anyone knows how to do this can they let me know please? For more info head over to <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tgwhf-uhn.ca/events/events.asp">http://www.tgwhf-uhn.ca/events/events.asp</a><!-- m --> and just search for the Mark Vandermeer memorial golf tournament or directly over to our "website" at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=193013845014&ref=ts">http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gi ... 014&ref=ts</a><!-- m --> .
Thanks for any help (no matter how big or how small)!
I'm hoping for some support from the hipbase to help raise funds for research and awareness of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Just over two years ago on August 19, 2008 my eighteen-year-old brother, Mark Vandermeer, suddenly passed away due to the effects of HCM. I was 19 at the time and was unfortunately the one who had to find him in his bed the morning he died. In his memory we are holding the second annual Mark Vandermeer Memorial Golf Tournament. In it’s first year alone we were able to raise over $15,000 with all proceeds going directly to support HCM research at Toronto General Hospital and a scholarship set up through Courtice Secondary School.
HCM is basically a thickening of the cardiac muscle of the heart, this causes strain on the heart and in the worst situation death. Often the only reason that it's found a person has HCM is their heart stops and they either die or get rushed to the hospital in a near death experience. HCM is the leading cause of death among young athletes. As was the case with my brother they often appear to be the picture of health taking part in competitive athletics (my brother played rep hockey, rugby and lacrosse for his entire life) only to die abruptly and with out warning. It can be detected with a simple echocardiogram and if found measures can be taken to prevent sudden death.
With the hipbase, I was basically wondering whether anyone out there would like to contribute whether it be financially (tax deductible) or through any kind of gift donation that can be used for numerous raffles or the silent auction we will be holding. Anything donated through a business will be stated as such giving it some cheap advertising among a heavily 18-25 crowd. Anybody with any questions or comments can either PM me or send me an email at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:07vander@utsc.utoronto.ca">07vander@utsc.utoronto.ca</a><!-- e -->
I'd like to attach a letter of support from Toronto General Hospital and one from the tournament organizers (who also happen to be my parents) but the forum isn't allowing the attachment of any .doc or PDF files, if anyone knows how to do this can they let me know please? For more info head over to <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tgwhf-uhn.ca/events/events.asp">http://www.tgwhf-uhn.ca/events/events.asp</a><!-- m --> and just search for the Mark Vandermeer memorial golf tournament or directly over to our "website" at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=193013845014&ref=ts">http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gi ... 014&ref=ts</a><!-- m --> .
Thanks for any help (no matter how big or how small)!