Community

Through the years we have been involved in many community efforts including serving on the Houston BBB board of directors and BBB committee work to help enhance the business efforts and climate. We have also supported may different local philanthropic efforts including the March of Dimes, Star of Hope, Womens Center, UMDF (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation) and others.

Our current major involvement is with the UMDF. This organization raises funds for education and research for the eventual cure of mitochondrial disease. This disease affects the energy production in 3 organs or more in each person who has mitochondrial disease; most are children and most die before they reach puberty. It is now estimated that one in 200 people are somehow affected with this disease or one of it's related diseases.

We host a 5K Fun Run each year to raise money for this research and to help educate the community about the disease. This year will be our third annual 5K event and it will again be held at the Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston the Saturday before Valentine's Day at 8am. We have helped put together a local chapter for the national group and have a wonderful board. One of our board members is Dr. Mary K. Koenig who has opened a mito clinic in the medical center this year. This is the first mito clinc in the southwest.

Please visit our UMDF website to learn more.

Recap of Christopher's Fun Run 2009

Christopher’s Heart Fun Run, held Saturday, Feb. 7, was a joyful day and a tribute to so many wonderful people and companies throughout Houston as well as a tribute to her son, Christopher. Year one of this event, there were 97 participants and $18,000 was raised; year two there were 257 participants and $65,000 was raised; year three there were 859 participants and almost $80,000 was raised.

The Fun Run is raising awareness in our community about this disease as well as money for research. When Christopher was diagnosed four years ago, it was thought that one in 4,500 children had this disease, now there are 42 diseases recognized under the umbrella of mito disease and it is one in 200 that are affected!!

The Fun Run’s major sponsor, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, and their giraffe, Topper, joined them and added a fun piece for all of the children’s activities. The weather was wonderful, the teams and runners were filled with lots of spirit, and the food was excellent and varied. Debra sends a special thank you to so many TPG members who play a large part in the success of these efforts: Barbara Marcus, Peggy Williamson, Karen Smith, Brenda Hahne, Kathy Gibson, Pam Moore, Shannon Burdett, Betty Bellomy, Jane Lehto, Nan McCreary, and all who sent good thoughts and prayers.

Click here to listen to coverage of last year's Fun Run on Fox 26.

Your support brings our families "one step closer to a cure" in the fight against mitochondrial disease!