Albany High School Students Unite To Raise Awareness and Funds For World Rare Diseas...( "Change...),Health

"Change For Change" Campaign Part of International Effort to Combat Rare Diseases That Collectively Effect 1 in 10 Americans

Albany, CA and Laguna Woods, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2009 -- Students at Albany High School in Albany, California, are asking classmates, teachers and parents if they can spare some change to help support the first annual World Rare Disease Day, an international event being held February 28, 2009. About 1 in 10 American's, or 30 million people in the United States, suffer from what is termed Rare Disease with about 75 percent of cases afflicting children. The goal of World Rare Disease Day 2009 is to raise global awareness of Rare Disease with policy makers and the public and educate people on how rare disease impacts patients and families.

The fundraising effort organized at Albany High School mirrors similar drives at schools and businesses around the country. The students at Albany High School formed the Red Bucket Club to support The Project: The Children's Rare Disease Network (www.theprojectcharity.org), a Laguna Woods, Calif.-based nonprofit organization that seeks to connect families with children afflicted by Rare Disease with information, resources and a platform for communication and collaboration.

"There's nothing rare about Rare Disease," said Nicole Boice, founder and CEO of The Project - The Children's Rare Disease Network. "Rare Disease is touching millions of people around the world and together we must start to make Rare Disease a global public health priority."
Rare diseases are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases with a low prevalence and a high level of complexity.

Approximately 7000 rare diseases have been identified often having deadly consequences or leaving children with sever
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