We are thrilled to announce that our community raised an incredible $178,404 during the APBD Tour de Friends Rally for Research fundraising campaign, exceeding our original goal of $150,000.

Together, we demonstrated the strength and unity of our grassroots community
to advance APBD research!

We extend our deepest gratitude to each of our 287 donors, whose generosity made this achievement possible. We’re thankful to our Board of Directors for their $50,000 match and to Dr. Ora Gordon for her $36,000 match. Additionally, we’re thankful to our peer-to-peer fundraising team leaders: Kathy Arky, Melanie Robinson, Faye Rosenberg, Alan Rosenthal and Robin Knoll, Carol Rosenstock, and Sharon Young. 

In spite of the challenging economic climate, our community rose to the occasion, driving forward APBD research and marking a milestone for the APBD Research Foundation’s 20 years of service. From fundraising to biking events and a virtual bingo and trivia night, community members stepped up in powerful ways.

Dr. Ora Gordon shared, “My motivation for giving is to accelerate APBD research and bring about treatment breakthroughs. This gift is in recognition of the Foundation’s twentieth year of service and the urgency of its mission.”  

Robin Knoll, whose husband Mark has APBD, shared, “I’m so thankful for Alan Rosenthal who rallied with me to raise funds among our family and friends. Alan also led his biking team in Texas to ride for the APBD community. What’s so touching is that Alan and his biking team have committed to making this an annual ride!”

With the fundraising campaign behind us, we will be issuing a request for proposals to our research community in the coming weeks. 

The APBD Tour de Friends Rally for Research campaign replaces the UPenn MDBR campaign with which we have partnered since 2016. 

Since our founding in 2005, we have raised and awarded over $1.8 million in pilot research grants as a Foundation and through UPenn’s MDBR. Recipients include researchers at Columbia University, Duke University Medical Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, University of Florida, Newcastle University, and Hadassah Medical Organization. 

These seed grants have made possible the ground-breaking drug discovery and biomarker development initiatives that are progressing today. To advance these initiatives — bring therapies from the bench to our patients — we must continue to invest in research.