Prominent Genetics Foundation to Present Bikes to Children with Rare Diseases at Heartwarming First Annual 'Day of Caring' Event to be Held Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Vancouver, BC Convention Centre

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During the first annual ACMG Foundation Day of Caring, the ACMG Foundation, a prominent non-profit genetics foundation based in Bethesda, MD, will give new bicycles to 20-25 children from the Rare Disease Foundation (www.rarediseasefoundation.org) of Vancouver, British Columbia.

For the first time, the ACMG Foundation (www.acmgfoundation.org) will host a special Day of Caring on Saturday, March 19, 10:00 a.m. in the Vancouver Convention Centre Exhibit Hall, where genetics professionals from around the world will give bicycles to children from the Rare Disease Foundation in Vancouver.  Families of children with rare genetic diseases will be invited to this special heartwarming event.

"Medical geneticists, genetic counselors and other practitioners in genetics, are some of the most caring and generous people in healthcare today," said R. Rodney Howell, M.D., FACMG, President of the ACMG Foundation.  "What better way to demonstrate that caring than by supporting children affected by genetics diseases.  All children – whether they are affected by disease or not – deserve to have fun and to enjoy wonderful and regular things like a new bike."  The ACMG Foundation, whose theme is Better Health Through Genetics supports education, research and a variety of other programs to translate genetic research into better health for all individuals.

"Children with rare diseases are so often left to feel like they are 'different' or 'unique' and all they want to be is like every other child, to be able to do and experience the same things as their peers. Having a bicycle like the 'other kids' means a lot to these children and to their families. As one mom said to me, 'Anything that brings normality to my child's world makes a huge difference, not just for him but also for us as parents.' To some extent, programs like this one are as important for ill children as are the programs that support the research that will one day hopefully find cures," said Christele du Souich, M.Sc., CCGC, CGC, Genetic Counsellor, Researcher, The Rare Disease Foundation.

The ACMG Foundation 2011 Day of Caring is supported by PerkinElmer, members of the American College of Medical Genetics and the ACMG Foundation.

About the American College of Medical Genetics

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics (www.acmg.net) advances the practice of medical genetics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1400 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics. ACMG's activities include the development of laboratory and practice standards and guidelines, advocating for quality genetic services in healthcare and in public health, and promoting the development of methods to diagnose, treat and prevent genetic disease. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG peer-reviewed journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers a variety of resources including Policy Statements, Practice Guidelines variety of resources including Policy Statements, Practice Guidelines, Educational Resources, and a Medical Geneticist Locator. The educational and public health programs of the American College of Medical Genetics are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations, and individuals. The American College of Medical Genetics Foundation (www.acmgfoundation.org) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding the College's diverse efforts to translate genes into health. The Foundation is dedicated to Better Health Through Genetics™.

About the Rare Disease Foundation

The Rare Disease Foundation is an organization comprised of parents, clinicians and researchers working together to find solutions for children and families affected by rare disease. Through facilitating communications between expert researchers, the Rare Disease Foundation performs treatment-focused research into rare diseases.  The Foundation also provides research grants to directly improve patient care. With parents and their families, we advocate for and foster the organization of the rare disease community and organize families for mutual support regardless of diagnosis.

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics Foundation