FACTS N' FACTORS SEPTEMBER 2018
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September is National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month is observed each September and is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA’s Ready Campaign, a public education outreach campaign, has great information and resources to help the public prepare for and respond to emergencies. As we all know, this preparation is especially important for persons with chronic health conditions, so be informed and make a plan – go here to find a comprehensive checklist from the Ready Campaign.

The Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) and the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) have many tools and resources to help the bleeding disorders community be proactive:



Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk
We are less than 60 days away from our inaugural Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk at Robious Landing Park in Midlothian! This year's walk has a brand new look and feel - join us as we unite together for a special one-mile walk, program and fun fall festival!

Highlights include:
  • Balloon animals and face painting with Rosie the Clown!

  • Entertainment by crowd favorite - Jonathan the Juggler!

  • Warm-Up by Nutzy of the Richmond Flying Squirrels and VCU Cheerleaders!

  • Special Unite pinwheel ceremony

  • Recognizing our top fundraisers!  
      
  • A one-mile walk for ALL fitness levels!

This event is free and open to everyone inside and outside the bleeding disorders community. Walk t-shirts will only be available to those who are registered and have raised a minimum of $25 by Thursday, October 11th. We have a fundraising goal of $20,000 from our participants and we need your help to get there! We encourage you to form a team and make your own special team shirts to walk together that morning!
We Need You!
Are you looking to give back to the VHF community as an event volunteer? Are you part of a club or social organization that likes to give back? We are looking for some amazing event-day volunteers! You can be a fundraising participant for the walk, but it is not required. 
Upcoming Events
September
Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump

October
Camp Holiday Trails in Charlottesville

October 18 - Educational Dinner
TBD - Tidewater Region, RSVP Coming Soon

Robious Landing Park in Midlothian

November
The Boathouse Restaurant at Sunday Park in Richmond

Build-a-Bear at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach
VHF August Events Wrap-up
August 3rd - 5th | HACA and VHF Teen Advocacy Weekend in Washington DC
Thirteen teens and their families traveled from Virginia, DC, and Maryland for a weekend of advocacy, education, and community building in the nation’s capital! The weekend started with a nighttime bus tour highlighting DC's many magnificent monuments and memorials. On Saturday the teens were given the opportunity to spend time at the Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) office where they worked on developing an "elevator speech", discussed advocacy on a federal level, and met one-on-one with a panel of young professionals. After a guided tour of the U.S. capitol everyone walked to Carmine's Restaurant for an educational presentation on transitiong to an adult HTC. Thank you to our sponsors Bayer, Bioverativ, Genentech, Hemophilia Federation of America, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, and Shire.  Go here to see event photos.
August 9th | Educational Dinner in Roanoke "Journey of Factor: A Deeper Dive"
Thirty people gathered for dinner and education at Billy's Restaurant in Roanoke. Thank you to our sponsor Shire and to our program committee volunteer Davida Wickline for attending and managing registration. "Our speaker was excellent! She demonstrated how factor half life works with cookies. The children payed close attention. They didn't know who would be next to receive a portion of factor aka the cookie! It was wonderful to see all of the kids be involved with the presentation and for them to understand how as time goes by the amount of factor in their bodies decreases and so did the cookie!" Davida Wickline
August 18th - Celebrate Summer Educational Lunch and Community Event at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach
Eleven families gathered together at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach to celebrate summer. It was a beautiful day to enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch, play games of corn hole, and learn more about 504 Plans and other back to school resources from Kelly Gonzalez, MBA. Be sure to check out VHF’s shareable resources for school here . Thank you to our sponsors CSL Behring, Matrix Health Group, and Shire.
2019 VHF Scholarship Applications Now Available!
VHF is pleased to offer scholarships for national meetings, academic study, leadership, volunteerism and/or health promotion .

National Education Meetings
National Meetings enable our community to come together and exchange information on a variety of topics, from the basics of diagnosis to developments in treatment and technology.

  • 2019 HFA Annual Symposium will be in San Diego, CA on April 4-6, 2019, Scholarship Application Due: December 14, 2018

  • 2019 NHF Bleeding Disorders Conference will be in Anaheim, CA on October 3-5, 2019, Scholarship Application Due: May 1, 2019


National Advocacy Event – Washington Days
NHF’s Washington Days is an opportunity for people affected by bleeding disorders to advocate for issues that matter to them. NHF schedules your meetings with the offices of your Senators and your member of the House of Representatives. You will travel as a team to each meeting.

  • 2019 NHF Washington Days will be in Washington DC on March 27 – 29, 2019, Scholarship Application Due: December 14, 2018


VHF Lyman Fisher Scholarship
Applicants must have participated in VHF activities and live in the territorial jurisdiction of VHF. Scholarships are one-year awards in the amount of $2,000 for a full academic year.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2019


Terry Lamb Enrichment Scholarship
This scholarship can be used for any program (i.e. camp, educational/life skill classes, fitness programs or activities, etc.) that enhances one’s self-esteem, confidence, overall health, leadership skills, areas of interest, development of life skills, and volunteerism.