UMD Update:  Andrijana and Mende spent last week in the U.S. for medical tests at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore.  Andrijana will need to undergo surgery very soon costing over $50,000.  Unfortunately, the family has virtually no money to fund this surgery.  Please consider helping Andrijana.  Below is information from UMD's previous work with the Risteski family and how you can contribute.

Give Hope. Help Andrijana and Mende Risteski!

On April 8, 2006, the United Macedonian Diaspora in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia organized a charity evening to benefit Andrijana and Mende Risteski from Prilep, Macedonia.  The children, who are the first case with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) disease in Macedonia, attended by their loving parents visited the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, U.S.A. for medical research and consultations.

While in the U.S., the Risteski family was cared for by numerous volunteers from the Macedonian-American community in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metro area.  The United Macedonian Diaspora would like to thank all who gave their financial and emotional support to the Risteski family.

Furthermore, we kindly ask everyone - individuals, families and businesses- to please assist the Risteski family in this time of need.  The children need to return to the U.S. in September for a nine-months treatment.  Until then, they plan to undergo few surgeries in Macedonia and receive the prescribed medications.  Because of the nature of this rare, recessive genetic disorder, the medications and treatments of A-T are very expensive.

If you would like to help Andrijana and Mende and give hope to the children, you may do so in one of the three ways below:

Please make check payable to Zoran Risteski, and send in c/o United Macedonian Diaspora to P.O. Box 19028, Washington, D.C. 20036

or transfer funds to Zoran Risteski, Bank account #1672008590, Bank routing #255071981

or by clicking HERE and entering your contribution amount under the 'Charitable Efforts' field and writing 'Andrijana' in the Note section.

Your donations are greatly appreciated!

Ataxia-Telangiectasia Kids. Hope. Cure.

The disease is characterized by neurological problems, particularly abnormalities of balance, recurrent serious sinus and respiratory infections, and dilated blood vessels in the eyes and on the surface of the skin.  Patients usually have immune system abnormalities and are very sensitive to the effects of radiation treatments.

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