one day for fa
About us
We are parents of children with an inherited DNA repair disorder called Fanconi anemia (FA). FA can lead to bone marrow failure, leukemia, and cancer. We created One Day for FA as a B.C. (Canadian) fundraiser aimed at raising awareness and $$ to discover better treatments and ultimately a cure for our children's life-threatening disease. By contributing to this cause, you are supporting not only our own local families, but thousands of other families around the globe, to help our children live long and productive lives. One day, we hope that the diagnosis of Fanconi anemia will not fill parents with dread. One day, we hope that Fanconi anemia will become a chronic, manageable disease that will not threaten our children's futures. One day, we will find a cure! And 'one day' starts with us!
DYLAN
Dylan is 12 and lives in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. He loves his friends and his family. He is working toward his black belt in mixed martial arts, and plays trumpet in the grade 7 band. He is a Boy Scout. He is funny, artistic, smart, and tenacious (read: stubborn). Dylan knows what he wants, and usually gets his way! He was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia when he was just 5 months old. Dylan has not yet had a bone marrow transplant and his health is currently stable. But as parents of a child with this unpredictable disease, we never know when the other shoe will drop. Each patient's journey with FA is different. And although we cannot control the progression or the outcome of Dylan's disease, we do have power over how we react to it. And that is why we fundraise!
LEA
Lea is 13 years old and lives in Vancouver, BC. She was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia when she was two and a half years old. At the time of diagnosis her blood work was already showing early signs of bone marrow dysfunction, and by the time she was 4 she needed a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, Lea's transplant was a success and she is doing great. Lea is a friendly, outgoing, talkative and caring girl who is passionate about reading, takes dance and piano lessons, and enjoys spending time with her friends. She loves her family, her dog Tess, and she will tell you "shopping too". However, like the Mingo Ritchie family, we too face the unknown of when the "other shoe will drop". This is why it is so important to raise funds to support research that will hopefully ensure our children will live longer, healthier lives.
SOPHIA
Sophia was almost 6 years old when she lost her battle with Fanconi anemia. She was born prematurely, weighing only 1,480 grams. Despite this difficult start, Sophia grew into a sweet always-smiling little girl. She was happy, bubbly and caring. She enjoyed school, and spending time with family and friends, especially her cousins and little brother. She loved summer days at the beach building castles or swimming with her daddy. At age 5, Sophia received a bone marrow transplant. But unfortunately in December 2012, Sophia passed away due to complications from the transplant. Fanconi anemia is a very complex disease, and this is why it is so important to raise awareness and funds for research, so that one day children will not have to suffer like Sophia did. She will be forever missed.
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