The 2008 UMDF Heartstrings and LEAP Award winners have been chosen!  Please check back for more details!

This award was created to recognize a child or teen who has donated or raised funds for the UMDF, enabling the UMDF to continue its mission. The winner is chosen based on related criteria of age, time invested, talents demonstrated, effectiveness and generosity.

This year we have two honorees -- sisters Ashley and Brittany Wilkinson. Brittany, the UMDF’s first Youth Ambassador is a courageous young lady who doesn’t let the weeks or months she spends in the hospital keep her from working on her fundraising events, making calls, dictating letters and talking to everyone who comes into her room about what she is doing and why. After raising more than $16,000 in one year, Brittany is working hard to go nationwide this year!

Her older sister Ashley is also living with mitochondrial disease, but she doesn’t let that stop her from walking door-to-door to pass out flyers for her sister’s events. She even sings at the dinners, performs with her sister and gives speeches to classrooms, despite trips to the hospital three times a week for four-hour infusions. Both girls are an inspiration!

2007 UMDF LEAP Award

This award was created to recognize an individual living positively with mitochondrial disease, highlighting the person’s accomplishments and volunteer service. The individual should demonstrate a positive attitude, hope for a brighter future and an enthusiasm that inspires others.

This year’s recipient is Jamieson Smith, a sophomore at Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey. Jamie was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease in 1999 and has had many health struggles since his diagnosis, but each time he overcomes them with a positive attitude and a unique energy for life.

Despite being hospitalized every 21 days for IVIG, Jamie is living life to the fullest. He is involved in the UMDF not only as a Youth Ambassador, but also as a member of the Delaware Valley Chapter board. He recently testified in support of the New Jersey Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week legislation. Jamie is also active in several school and church activities, is an honor student and was February 2007 Student of the Month.

Above all, Jamie cares deeply about finding a cure for mitochondrial disease, not only for himself but for his friends who are also affected.

Jamieson is Living with the disease, Encouraging others to help the UMDF, Achieving by building awareness, and Persisting every day to help others.

2006 UMDF Heartstrings Award

Over the past year and half, Hannah has been working on a Jewish Holiday Cookbook. The project began in Speech Therapy – she and her therapist were looking for new ways to work with Hannah on her language skills.

Since Hannah enjoys baking and is active in her religion, they decided to try decorating cakes for the different Jewish Holidays. Hannah came up with ideas on how to decorate cakes for different holidays and then wrote down directions so another person could create the cake on their own. The idea grew into a cookbook – Hannah sold the book to raise awareness about mitochondrial disease and dollars for UMDF.

Her project took over a year to put together from start to finish. Hannah sold all of her copies (100) within a week and a half – raising $1,000 for UMDF.  Her parents said on their nomination form, “What tugged at us most about this project – it was never about Hannah. When she came up with the idea, it was ‘to help others like me.”

Pam accepted the responsibility of Kansas City Chapter President in 2005 -- even though her disease symptoms cause her to tire often. She willingly organized and reorganized the chapter to bring back key members to the board and works hard to motivate and support the KC Chapter Board as well as strives to meet the needs of the families that call her.

Pam is a pediatrician but can no longer practice because of her mitochondrial disease. Instead of being discouraged by what she can no longer do, Pam channels her energy and knowledge to help parents and other adults. Her commitment to share information and inform the public about mitochondrial disease is never ending and she always gives 150% -- even when she should be resting!

Pam is Living with the disease, Encouraging others to help the UMDF and each other, Achieving by building the capacity of the Kansas City Chapter, and Persisting every day to help others.