One of the Foundation's first fundraising events.
The Cure JM Story
The Cure JM Foundation was established in October 2003 by Harriet Bollar, grandmother of a child with JM, and Shari Hume and Lisa Felix, both mothers of children with JM. They were brought together only by circumstance, but with the same determination to find a cure for Juvenile Myositis. Their ultimate goal was to eradicate JM, so that no child would ever have to suffer from this insidious disease again.
Cure JM's first fundraiser was a modest lemonade stand in Encinitas, California. Soon after, the Foundation established a website to increase awareness of the disease and provide information and emotional support for families impacted by the disease.
Over the years, the organization has grown substantially. Through nationwide grassroots fundraising efforts, the Cure JM Foundation has raised over four millions dollars for JM research. These funds have been used to help establish JM research centers at both Chicago Children's Memorial Research Center and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In addition, the Cure JM Foundation has funded a wide range of genetic and JM treatment studies, as well as fellowships. Cure JM also co-produced the first-ever book on JM, Myositis and You, featuring contributions from over 80 experts and medical professionals.
.
