Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, January 20 , 1999

Release #023-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI ATTENDS 2ND ANNUAL ALL-STAR EVENING FOR HUNTER'S HOPE

Foundation Seeks To Increase Public Awareness of Krabbe Disease

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani attended the 2nd Annual All-Star Evening for Hunter's Hope this evening at the All-Star Café in Midtown Manhattan. Hunter's Hope was established in September, 1997 by former Buffalo Bills Quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife Jill, in honor of Hunter James Kelly, their infant son, who was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease (Globoid-Cell Leukodystrophy).

Hunter's Hope is the Kellys' life-long commitment to increase public awareness of Krabbe and other Leukodystrophies, so that children may benefit from early detection and treatment. Their ultimate goal is to find a cure for Krabbe Disease and other Leukodystrophies by helping raise funds to support research.

"It's wonderful to be here tonight and to see so many people united with initiative, energy, determination, focus, and love to find better treatment and a cure for Krabbe Disease," said Mayor Giuliani. "Hunter's Hope understands that every medical breakthrough, every advance that ever happened in a lab, came about because someone was driven to find it. This is why the money raised through Hunter's Hope, almost $2 million already, will focus the energy of more and more researchers on Krabbe Disease and all Leukodystrophies.

"Besides raising money, Hunter's Hope has raised something just as crucial -awareness," the Mayor continued. "This difference cannot be easily measured or quantified, but it is important in turning around what once was a spirit of resignation and powerlessness into a spirit of hope. Too often, children with Krabbe Disease do not have their condition properly and rapidly identified by their doctors. With the help of Hunter's Hope, more and more parents are equipping themselves with the information they need to search out the right diagnosis so they can begin giving their children the care, the time, and the love they need.

"I want to thank Jim and Jill Kelly for taking it upon themselves to reach out to help other families and children - a noble act that will never be forgotten because it is making a night-and-day difference in thousands and thousands of lives. I also want to thank all the members of the professional sports community for being here this evening. Your financial and spiritual support is important to every child and family that will be reached through Hunter's Hope and to supporting the research that will bring a cure," the Mayor concluded.

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