Displayed among Annette's awards and other career-related memorabilia at D23 Expo 2015 was an illustration depicting a device that was developed with the help of a grant from the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND).
Created by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, this small, simple instrument is able to accurately measure blood flow back to the heart from the brain. It was tested this year on the International Space Station by Italy's first female astronaut, Samantha Cristofferetti. After 199 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes in space, Cristofferetti broke the record for the longest space flight by any woman in history.
The same tool used in this historic space experiment is expected to benefit millions on earth by easily and effectively detecting obstacles within the veins obstructing blood flow from the brain back to the heart; which is believed to be a contributor to neurodegenerative conditions like MS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
It is groundbreaking projects like this that your donations to AFRFND support!
We want to thank everyone who stopped by our booth at this years Expo and supported us with your encouragement and donations! Thanks to you, and especially Dave Mason from SaturdaysToys.com who graciously hosted us, over $4,000 was raised for neurological research at this three-day event!
We also want to extend our thanks to Director, Carol Schumacher and her husband Scott who traveled from San Francisco to Anaheim to represent the Fund at the booth on Sunday. The couple covered all room and travel expenses themselves, at absolutely no cost to the Fund.
By supporting the AFRFND, you are joining a team committed to unraveling the mysteries surrounding neurological disease. With nearly 100% of all contributions going directly to research grants.......for us......it truly is all about the research!
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