Drivathon to help those suffering from AAA

Foundation For
Aneurysm Rupture Research


New York State drivathon, summer 2009

FFARR is planning a very modest, detail-intensive drivathon around New York State in May-June (and maybe longer) 2009.

SUMMARY: The drivathon will involve FFARR Executive Director Richard J. Astor, with local volunteers and activists, going round the state in a minivan: (1) distributing free FFARR literature on aneurysmal disease; (2) meeting aneurysm sufferers and their families and finding out their healthcare needs and wants -- and helping set up support systems; (3) outreaching to appropriate scientists, clinicians and healthcare facilities.

PARTICULARLY: The drivathon program and route will particularly include (for example): (1) doctors' offices; (2) hospitals in rural and low-income communities; (3) major teaching hospitals; (4) science and medical departments in universities (SUNY, Cornell, Columbia etc) to find out what's hot in vascular research; (5) rural, low-income, minority and disadvantaged communities throughout the state, especially uninsured folk.

A STATE OF THE ARTERY[R] REPORT: During the drivathon, FFARR hopes to collect enough information about aneurysm epidemiology and vascular healthcare in New York State to write and publish a brief, cogent, credible, free State Of The Artery[R] report on the subject afterwards.

MUSIC TOO: Richard will also look for opportunities to give free informal concerts of Mozart piano concertos with local musicians to anyone who will listen -- giving a human face to FFARR.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED! FFARR seeks help to plan, organise, publicize and actually do the drivathon: there is a role for everyone, full-time or part-time: researchers to check out hospitals for FFARR to visit; intrepid types to come on the drivathon and help FFARR do its outreach; musicians to help with the Mozart; techies to help with the drivathon blog and video; and so on. If you'd like to help in any way, please email Richard (***@****) or FFARR Outreach Supremo Svetlana Gitman (***@****). FFARR will pay reasonable expenses, and feature every helper on its drivathon blog and website.

Watch this space for more drivathon information as it develops: drivathon volunteers, the route, specific stops, specific meetings and activities at each stop, drivathon sponsors and partners, the drivathon blog and video diary, Mozart music clips, friends we've made who have aneurysms, scientists and clinicians we're going to meet, science innovation, health insurance GOOD news (hopefully), and more!