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Overcast Raising money and awareness for a little known disease
It’s called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, RSD/CRPS for short. The person afflicted with it is in constant debilitating pain. The body’s nerves misfire and send pain signals to the brain. It can affect just the extremities, up to 70 percent of the whole body.
Treatments include medication, often opioids, injections of nerve blocking medications, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HOT) and spinal column stimulators, which are implanted in the patient and release an electric pulse to try and interfere with nerve impulses.
Oceanside resident Caroline Bert has suffered with RSD since 2007.
“Every year we walk the Achilles Walk for Hope and Possibility. It is great to meet others with RSD and network, as well as participate in the fun event. This year my Mom and my best friend Annette Quinn wanted to raise more money for the walk than we ever had in years past.”
The Bert’s held the RSD/CRPS Fundraiser on June 3rd at J.Pauls Terrace Cafe. Bert’s father, Glenn Burt and Quinn were guest bartenders and 20 percent of what was made at the bar during the fundraiser was donated to the walk. They also sold raffle baskets and 50/50.
“We had an outstanding turnout and live music by my cousin Jake Incao,” Caroline said. “We raised over $2,500 that night, and the donations keep coming from some friends that were not able to make it. I would say that the fundraiser was very successful because although it is great that we raised so much money, I think it is even better that we raised the awareness in my community. During the fundraiser so many people asked me questions about what RSD is and I was so happy to educate them because next time they meet someone with RSD they won’t have to ask ‘what’s that’.”
Donations to Team Caroline are welcome at https://www.firstgiving.com/team/326129.
