Hello! My name is Erica Brooks and I own a company called Issues Concerning Athletes in Scottsdale, AZ. To say I was ill-prepared for my father’s Amyloidosis diagnosis in 2007 would be an understatement. At the time, so little was known about this disease and our family was not ready to help my dad or each other. My mother was connected to Amyloidosis Support Groups, a non-profit 501C3 (also known as ASG). They were a pillar of strength for our family over the next 6 years as my dad bravely fought this deadly disease. In his memory, it has become my mission to make sure others have the tools needed to deal with the difficulties of this devastating disease.

Amyloidosis is a potentially serious disease that involves abnormal protein (amyloid) building up in your tissues and organs, causing a broad spectrum of symptoms. It can lead to organ failure, which may be fatal. Amyloidosis isn’t cancer, but it can be associated with certain blood cancers. Doctors estimate about 4,000 people develop primary amyloidosis in the U.S. each year. There are potentially many others with this disease, but the signs and symptoms are too similar to many other more common conditions. The disease often goes undiagnosed or the diagnosis is delayed because of its similarities to other diseases.

Support is especially helpful when you have a rare condition. The purpose of Amyloidosis Support Groups helps members feel like they are not alone. ASG seeks to increase awareness and spread knowledge of the signs and symptoms of this insidious disease. The support group started in 2004 and is now in 30 cities in the United States. They hold meetings in each city 1-3 times a year and it costs $2-4,000 to hold each event. The 2020 budget for Amyloidosis Support Groups is $200,000 and it will cover 50 meetings in the United States. To date, they have touched the lives of over 4,000 people.

On March 5, 2020, Issues Concerning Athletes will host the 10th Annual Celebrity Bartender Night at Wasted Grain in Scottsdale, Arizona. 100% of the proceeds will go to Amyloidosis Support Groups. Major League Baseball players will bartend at the event. Other celebrities and media members will be in attendance. We will have many high-value silent auction and raffle items available. Over the years, this event has raised almost $200,000! It’s a memorable night for the athletes, sponsors and attendees. Here is an article from last year’s event: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/cactus-league-stars-bartend-for-charity.

More is coming to light about Amyloidosis and it might not be long before someone you know is affected by this disease. Will you consider joining us in our quest to educate people and and lend a helping hand to the Amyloidosis Support Group? We are seeking donations to be included in our raffle and silent auction items as well as gifts for the MLB bartenders. Products, gift cards/certificates and In-Kind donations are what make our event a great success each year.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope to hear from you soon and look forward to seeing how we can work together to fight the good fight.