South Florida Jewish Genetic Diseases Education Fair to be Held Sunday, November 16tha t the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in Boca Raton

Free Genetic Testing for the first 100 participants!
BOCA RATON, Fla. – (October 7, 2008) – The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation (MFRF) and The Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases will sponsor the South Florida Jewish Genetic Diseases Educational Fair on Sunday, November 16 at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in Boca Raton from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Potential parents of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry between the ages of 18 and 44 are invited for an educational program on genetic conditions including Tay-Sachs, Bloom Syndrome, Canavan, Cystic Fibrosis, Familial Dysautonomia, Fanconi Anemia, Gaucher, Mucolipidosis IV and Neimann-Pick.
Free carrier screening, which requires a simple blood test administered by West Boca Medical Center’s professional staff, will be available to the first 100 participants.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with The Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami and West Boca Medical Center to make it as easy as possible for potential parents to receive this important genetic education and carrier testing free of charge,” said MFRF President Kevin Romer.  “Appointments are limited however, so we encourage potential parents to register as soon as possible for one of the available spots”.
Inspired by the strength of Mathew Romer who lost his eight-year battle with Tay-Sachs disease in 2003, MFRF was founded in South Florida to support education and research of children’s genetics diseases of the brain.
In the past five years, MFRF has provided free screening for more than 600 participants in South Florida. More than 20% of those tested were found to be carriers of the gene for at least one of these fatal diseases.
This year, the Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation celebrates its 10th Anniversary of driving education and research programs by broadening its impact through new partnerships with The Victor Center and the University of Miami School of Medicine.
“The purpose of The Victor Center is to further the awareness, education and prevention of Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Diseases and I’m proud to be working with The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation in Palm Beach County,” said Lois Victor, Founder of the Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, the Victor Outreach Program at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, and the recently opened Victor Center at The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
A native of Boston, Victor is a long-time resident of Florida who lost both of her children to a Jewish Genetic Disease.  She has made it her mission to make sure that other children and their families need not be subjected to the heartaches of preventable diseases.
“Working together with The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation we can enhance the quality and reach of all of our programs and services,” said Victor. Other generous sponsors of the event include Judy Levis Markhoff and Temple Beth El of Boca Raton.

The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is located at 9801 Donna Klein Boulevard in Boca Raton.

Pre-registration is required.  Call The Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation at (561) 477-0337 or visit www.mfrfoundation.org to register for an appointment.

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