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The Need for Cures -- Tremendous!

Disorders of the nervous system are the most common causes of disability for people of all ages. More than fifty million Americans have a permanent neurological disability that limits their daily activities; many are progressive or even fatal. And the numbers keep growing.

Every day 7,650 Americans are diagnosed with a nerve-killing disorder—2½ the number as those who are diagnosed with cancer. Of these, more than 3,100 are children--more children than the number of people that perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001. 

• 1 person is diagnosed with a prion disease.
• 4 people are diagnosed with Huntington's disease.
• 14 adults receive a death sentence when diagnosed with ALS.
• 22 babies are born with Cerebral Palsy.
• 27 people learn they have Multiple Sclerosis.
• 36 suffer a spinal cord injury, including 6 who die of their injuries.
• 357 children are diagnosed with epilepsy.
• 380 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
• 961 learn they will lose their identity to Alzheimer’s disease.
• 2,000 suffer a stroke.
• 3,846 receive brain injuries (including 2,747 children), with 220 suffering permanent damage and 137 dying of their injuries.

As the number of victims increases each day, so does the need for cures. “We believe it is not enough to simply find new treatments,” said Hope Happens board member John Brightman. “We are determined to find cures.” Brightman is also vice chairman of UMB Bank.