IRC member Diane Braasch advocates on behalf of children with multi-seizure epilepsy through the Epilepsy Alliance. Diane's granddaughter, Katlyn, has the disease. The statistics are staggering: 1 of every 50 children and 1 of every 100 adults are diagnosed with it. More than 50,000 people die annually from seizures. The Alliance provides support groups, community education, referrals to specialists, and education to empower people with epilepsy. Surgery may help relieve some or all of these symptoms. IRC made a donation to the alliance. Diane, we admire your perseverance.
The club also supports Cystic Fibrosis Society. Ed's grandson has CF, but he plays baseball, and deals with the disease. The test for CF is a sweat test. People with it do not absorb enzymes, mucus clogs up the body. The last two years there has been a big advance in drugs being approved by the FDA to affect the underlying causes. 30,000 Americans are impacted by CF. Lucy, Tom and Ed presented a $1,000 for CF research.
Richard was a teacher and today works in development for the Irvine Valley College. He's been a long time resident of OC, a resident of Signal Hill, and the last five years has worked at Mt. Sak College before coming to IVC. IVC has 45,000 students, with programs all around OC. 12,000 FT students at IVC with a diverse mix, 41% are Irvine residents. They offer 62 different degrees, and is the #1 transfer rate college in OC where students with an AA are able to transfer to a four year college to complete their Bachelor's degree. They acquired 62 acres in Tustin, being cleaned up now and will build the Advanced Technology Park, 50,000 sq. ft park where courses will be taught in high tech, clean tech, R&D, with corporate offices too. It's the College of the Future, right in OC.
