6 FEBRUARY 2019 By Anthony Wallace At the young ages of 15 and 16, Xander Black, Matthew Linhart, Michael Bendok, and Samuel Steiner have grown into bona- fide fundraising veterans. The foursome came together during their seventh-grade year under a shared desire to affect positive change and raise money for those in need. “As seventh graders we may not have had all of the resources to make the biggest impact in terms of rare disease funding, but we certainly had the will,” Michael said. Kidz 4 Causes was born out of this dedication. Samuel’s younger brother Harry, who serves as the inspiration for the group’s cause, has obliterative bronchiolitis, a rare lung condition that leaves him with less than 30 percent lung functionality. “Hearing about what Harry went through really made an impact on me,” Xander said. “There are over 7,000 rare diseases affecting over 20 million Americans. Only 5 percent of these diseases have FDA- approved treatments and most children with a rare disease don’t even make it to their 5th birthday.” Since their first event, a coin drive at Michael’s home in January 2016, 100 percent of the money raised by the group has gone to Translational Genomics Research Institute’s (TGen) Center for Rare Childhood Diseases. “At the beginning, I felt like the four of us had the potential to do something very special for our community to help support children who have rare diseases such as Harry,” Matthew said. Matthew’s instincts have proven to be prophetic, as the boys have done and continue to do things that are special. At the time of that first event, the boys established a lofty goal: they would raise $200,000 to support the research of rare childhood diseases before they graduated high school. Now, halfway through their sophomore year, that goal looks entirely within reach. To date, they have raised just under $100,000. Kidz 4 Causes’ most successful fundraising event has been its annual 5K Run and 1 mile walk for rare disease research. On Sunday March 3, the organization will host the fourth edition of the event. “It was a huge success the first year and has grown every year since. It has definitely exceeded my expectations and putting on this event every year really means a lot to me,” Xander said. Last year’s race featured live music, high level competition in the 5K, and plenty of four-legged friends on the one-mile walk. They raised more than $30,000. “This year we hope to have a record- breaking 300 participants and raise around $40,000,” Xander said. It is an ambitious goal, but at this point, it would be foolish to doubt Kidz 4 Causes. This year’s race will take place on the Arizona Canal at 56th Street and Indian School Road. Registration is now open. Kidz 4 Causes to host 4th annual 5K for rare disease Matthew, Xander, Michael and Samuel started raising money for rare disease research in 7th grade. They are almost halfway to their goal of $200,000. DETAILS: Who: Anyone and everyone, including pets with leashes. What: The 4th Annual Run for Rare Disease Research 5K run or 1K walk. One hundred percent of all proceeds will benefit TGen’s Center for Rare Childhood Disorders. Where: Arizona Falls on the Arizona Canal, 5802 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. When: March 3, 2019. How: Registration is now open. To register, visit: kidz-4-causes.org. Arizona’s top-rated allergists are expanding into the Arcadia neighborhood! Both Dr. Jain and Dr. Hill are accepting new pediatric and adult patients. WE ARE NOW OPEN! For more information, visit our website at arcadiaallergy.com. Call 480-626-6600 to make an appointment today! Dr. Neal Jain and Dr. Jennifer Hill are board-certifi ed specialists in Allergy and Immunology. Both trained at the #1 Respiratory Hospital in the world, National Jewish Health, which is also the only facility dedicated exclusively to the treatment of respiratory, cardiac, allergy, and immune related disorders. Both Dr. Jain and Dr. Hill are nationally recognized experts in their fi eld who remain actively involved in research and believe in using the latest scientific evidence and technology to guide their treatment decisions in order to provide you and your family the best care possible. Both Dr. Jain and Dr. Hill are Arizona natives and Arcadia residents who are looking forward to sharing their experience and expertise with their neighbors. They will continue to provide individualized, high quality allergy care at their sister affiliate practice, San Tan Allergy & Asthma, in Gilbert. In addition to offering a Eczema clinic and a severe asthma clinic, Arcadia Allergy & Asthma is proud to announce the opening of their dedicated food allergy clinic, offering accurate diagnosis and treatment for appropriate patients. We are also excited to welcome Dr. Kiran Khalsa MD, MPH who will be joining the practice this spring from New York where she recently completed her training. 4840 E Indian School Rd. #101

7 FEBRUARY 2019 By Mallory Gleich February is American Heart Month and all around the Valley, hospitals and organizations are spreading awareness about heart health and heart diseases. Some are offering free screenings and informational events. Others, such as the American Heart Association (AHA), are spreading awareness a different way: by knitting hats for newborn babies. The Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign was started in Chicago in 2014 in connection with the Children’s Heart Foundation, an organization that focuses on children with congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect in the country. That year, just 300 hats were made and distributed to hospitals in the city. The program grew quickly, and in 2018, more than 200,000 hats were distributed to hospitals across 40 states. “I had knitted scarves for every person I knew. I needed a new project, so one day I got online and did some research and found the Little Hats, Big Hearts page and thought it would be nice to knit for a good cause,” said Debi Wardlaw, who has donated her hats for the past two years. The AHA website states that the red hats “symbolize our shared mission of heart- healthy lives for everyone. The effort also raises awareness of congenital heart defects, and what we can all do to help prevent them.” Volunteers are given a pattern to either crochet or knit red hats for new babies who are born in February, but donations are taken throughout the year. Although volunteers do not give the hats out personally, it still resonates as a heartwarming act. “After last year, I got a picture of a family with their baby wearing one of the hats I knitted. So that was really something – you know when you’re helping people and to see it was kind of cool,” Wardlaw said. At the start of the year, more than 3,000 hats had been donated to the American Heart Association, with 370 of those hats coming from the Buddha’s Light International Association – Phoenix Chapter in Arcadia. Some of the participating hospitals include: Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Honor Health Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, Banner Desert Medical Center, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Abrazo Scottsdale Campus. February 1 is also National Wear Red Day; make sure to show your support for the AHA. For more: heart.org or childrensheartfoundation.org. Little Hats, Big Hearts spreads awareness for Heart Month The American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign donated 200,000 hats to hospitals throughout the country in 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF SATARA WILLIAMS February special: Buy a ($25 or more) gift certificate and get a free brow wax! Empower yourself at Velocity stylebar, a place where you can relax, be spoiled and let your hair down. Blowouts/Style • Shampoo • Scalp Massage • Braids • Waxing velocitystylebar.com • 602-362-3363 Ask about our membership discounts. JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING Jan. 31st and Feb. 1st, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 4290 E. Indian School Road, Suite 119 Phoenix AZ 85018 Drawings and Giveaways Desert Valley Pediatrics - Arcadia 4840 E. Indian School Rd, #100, Phoenix, AZ 85018 623-877-PEDS (7337) • www.dvpeds.com M – F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Phones open at 8:00 AM) We do prenatal meet and greets! Arcadia QUALITY CARE • CONVENIENCE • REPUTATION Christopher Spiekerman, DO Ann Oland, MD Kristen Stanley, DO @DVPedsAR Call now to schedule a same-day flu shot or sick visit.