First U.K. Stem Cell Awareness Rally To Take Place In Manchester, England On August 9th, 2009

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 30 Jul 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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In what will be the Stem Cell Awareness Association's seventh awareness rally, past patients, interested physicians, and prospective patients will meet in Manchester to learn about stem cell technologies and discuss the various current treatments available throughout the world.

Stem cell advocate Darren Clarke is organizing the Manchester event. Mr. Clarke became involved in stem cell advocacy early in his daughter, Dakota's, life. At three years old, Dakota became the first child from Britain and Ireland to be treated for septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) in China. She was born blind but began to regain her vision just weeks into her stem cell treatment. Her parents have been passionate stem cell advocates ever since.

Darren said, "I felt that western medical opinion directed people away from the treatments available to people with problems like Dakota's. It's my aim to let people see that there is an option out there. If I can spread the news that it works and that there is hope, then all the effort will be worthwhile."

To read more about Dakota Clarke, details can be found on Dakota's website.

Peter Conry, a Dublin pharmacist and pharmaceutical industry veteran interested in stem cell technology, will be speaking at the event about how his work and travel throughout Asia transformed him from being a medically trained skeptic to informed stem cell advocate. Peter states, "I visited stem cell treatment facilities and spoke at length with patients and staff. I came away convinced I'd witnessed the start of a significant medical advance."

Shel Morse, stem cell advocate and mother of Macie Morse, will be attending from Colorado to share the story of her daughter, Macie, who regained vision after stem cell treatment in China. Macie, at 15 years old, was denied a driver's permit because optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) had left her legally blind. After stem cell treatment in China, Macie returned to the States and one year later had the required vision to pass the test.

Mrs. Morse said, "Because of what stem cells have done for my daughter, I am now on a mission to help bring awareness to as many people as possible. It's time to empower the people to make informed choices based on what is really available out there."

Also in attendance will be Luca Ricci from Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology, which provided the stem cells for Macie Morse's treatment. Mr. Ricci will be speaking about current treatments offered and answering patient questions about the therapy process -- from initially contacting Beike to life in China to returning home.

This U.K. rally will be the association's first event held outside of the United States and will follow in the footsteps of previous events by creating a community where stem cell patients have the opportunity to share their experiences with prospective patients. It will also provide an opportunity for doctors and medical specialists to not only connect with patients but also consider how stem cell technology can be successfully applied not just overseas, but locally.

All patients who are interested, who are considering stem cell treatments or who have already had stem cell treatments are welcome to join the U.K. Stem Cell Awareness Rally:

  Location: Manchester, England
  Place: The Thistle Manchester Hotel
  Date: August 9th, 2009
  Time: 10 a.m.

More information about the event can be found at the Stem Cell Awareness Association's web site.

Source
Stem Cell Awareness Association

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