Letter From the President
My name is Paul Harty and I'm the President of the MitoAction Board of Directors. Whatever the reason, I'm so glad you have found MitoAction.org. Regardless of who you are - an adult patient or spouse, a parent of an affected child, a teacher, a clinician - you have come to us to find education and support.
When my son turned one he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disorder called Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency. Despite access to excellent healthcare, my wife and I were devastated and felt that we had to take action. We spent countless hours combing the web, talking to specialists and looking for any piece of information that might help our son. I didn't care about funding basic science research that might never find a cure in my lifetime; I cared about helping Matthew today. When I found Mitoaction my world was opened to a new community of doctors, lawyers, parents, caregivers and patients who gave me hope through personal support and comprehensive information that I could instantly use. Little by little, we found ways to help Matthew have the best quality of life possible, today.
Now as a volunteer and the President of MitoAction, I hope you'll join me in taking action for all who are living with mitochondrial disease NOW.
1. Make a donation, or ask someone who can to give a gift in your honor.
2. Be a volunteer, through Mito 411 or as part of an important committee. Together we are making great strides.
3. Raise awareness about mitochondrial disease in your community by hosting an awareness event or by sharing MitoAction's message with your friends and family.
A dedicated Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Committee stands behind every program offered to our Mito community. Unlike the traditional nonprofit, bound by chapters and limited to geographic region, we can be scattered all over the world and still be connected to a community who believes in quality of life, awareness and support for every individual affected by "Mito".
Best wishes in this journey,
Paul