In Glens Falls, local resident Robb Freed later this month will begin an 8,000-mile cross-country bike ride to raise money and awareness for epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, a rare genetic tissue disorder with no cure or treatment that affects about 200 newborns every year. The “Big Ride for EB” is in honor of Freed’s son, Drake E. Freed, who was born in Glens Falls with the disease in 2005 and died 13 months later after numerous operations and treatments. Among the most prominent symptoms of the disease is extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. Internal organs and bodily systems can also be seriously affected by the disease. The ride will start in Jacksonville, Fla., on Feb. 28 and proceed to Astoria, Ore., after which Freed plans to ride back across the country, ending in Coney Island. Ninety percent of all donations made through his web page will go to the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (debra of America). For more information on the ride and to donate, visit www.thebigrideforeb.com.
In Niskayuna, Judy Mulrooney, a nurse at Ellis Hospital, is helping make the lives of dogs in animal shelters a little more enjoyable by establishing a nonprofit organization that provides treats to animal shelters around the country. The effort, Operation Doggie Treats Inc., is in honor of her late German shepherd Gunner, whom she says was a great comfort to her after she lost her husband, Tod, in March 2015. Mulrooney has been donating 50 pounds of dog treats to animal shelters for more than a year and has donated nearly 2,000 pounds of treats so far. Each 50-pound donation costs about $50. To learn more about her effort and to donate, visit the Operation Doggie Treats Facebook page.
High Notes is a feature of The Gazette Opinion section that appears every Monday to spotlight the good being done in our communities by individuals, organizations and businesses. Reader submissions to High Notes are welcome. Send suggestions to Editorial Page Editor Mark Mahoney at [email protected].
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