A North Penn family cohosted a fundraiser in November to help raise money and awareness for PANDAS/PANS, following the June diagnosis of their 6-year-old son, Aidan.
The fundraiser was a casino royale event held in New Hope, with live entertainment, food, table games and raffles. Over 300 people attended the event, raising $70,000 for the PANDAS Network. The money will go, in part, to Columbia University.
“It was an extremely overwhelming, exciting, emotional night,” said Leah Gilchrist, Aidan’s mother and cohost of the fundraiser. “The entire fundraising committee came together as a united team to be able to pull-off this memorable and successful event.”
Gilchrist’s son was diagnosed with PANDAS earlier this year, following a series of baffling symptoms. Even after months of treatment and surgery, little progress has been made towards improving his symptoms. His symptoms come and go, and each day is different. However, his parents are not giving up hope and have found comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their struggles with helping their son.
“I will say even with little to no progress right now, my husband and I are so incredibly grateful for all the families, parents, and knowledgeable people we have met along this journey,” said Gilchrist. “The silver lining to this journey, and it has taken me a long time to accept that there even is a silver lining, has been making lifelong friendships.”
See also:
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