Lucy covers the 13-mile course of the Bupa North Run

It’s amazing how one story can go so far in inspiring people across continents, across generations, and across personal beliefs. This is the story of Al Rodriguez; this is the story of ADRLF; and this is the story of Lucy.

“I only have one goal: to raise as much money as I can to help as many people as I can,” shares 22-year old Lucy Girdlestone, who over the last months, has single-handedly braved distances in her hometown in north-east England to raise money for ADRLF and cancer research.

Who’s Lucy and what has she got to do with ADRLF? Admittedly a ‘fan girl,’ as what she call herself, Lucy is proof to the boundless power of passion – from her passion for Al’s inspiring story, to her passion for Sara Ramirez, to her passion for music and Glee, to her passion for taking on challenges for a worthy cause.

With the prevalence of cancer as among the world’s most fatal culprits, Lucy is like many of us who has lost a loved one to cancer. But Lucy takes this loss as a jump off point to launch activities that may help support the cause of ADRLF.
Last June, Lucy set off on a “bike ride for Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation,” traversing about eight miles from her home in South Shields to the City of Sunderland. Enduring heat and fatigue, she completed the journey for one hour and twenty-five minutes, and raised over £100 for ADRLF.

Recently, Lucy dared yet another adventure for causes close to her heart. Along with her brother, she joined the Bupa Great North Run on September and coursed through thirteen miles.

Lucy may not exactly be fit for such a strenuous task but she raced on. Deeply inspired by Rosie, her brother’s friend who died of cancer at 22, by her Auntie Hazel who died at 16, and by the memory of Al, Lucy ran in the rain with painful blisters forming on her feet.

“This was for all those people who battled and have won, and for those still battling,” she thought to herself. “All these reasons would get me to the finish, no matter what.”

And sure enough, Lucy conquered the course in three hours and twenty-five minutes, her family and loved ones proudly waiting for her at the finish line.

It’s amazing how Al’s story gave birth to ADRLF, inspiring a multitude of bold and generous souls like Lucy to create an inspiring story of their own. As Lucy plans for her next fund-raising activity, she hopes one day to come to the United States and personally hand ADRLF her hard-earned donation.

This is Lucy’s story, but this could also be yours.

-Toni Bacala

Recent findings on an unknown canine virus exhibiting similarities with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has boosted the hope of over 200 million people struggling against HCV. Such discovery has opened new doors to fully understand the virus, and ultimately, to develop vaccine and treatment.

HCV is considered as among the most deadly of human viruses. In the US, 3.2 million live with HCV, rendering them vulnerable to complications such as cirrhosis, gastric varices, and liver cancer. The virus is typically transmitted during repeated or significant exposure to contaminated blood or devices such as injections. People with HIV, as well as the children born to HIV-positive mothers are extremely at risk of exposure to infection.

For years, experts have tried to uncover the origin of this virus. The recent discovery came as great surprise to researchers at Pfizer and Columbia University’s Center for Infection and Immunity who were originally looking into virus outbreaks among dogs with respiratory diseases. Dubbed the Canine Hepacivirus (CHV), this virus contains Genome Scale Ordered RNA structures (GORS) which is also found in HCV.

Furthermore, it was found that the dynamics of infection and replication of CHV highly corresponds to that of HCV. With the collaboration of other experts from University of Edinburgh and Rockefeller University, this significant discovery was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last May.

“The identification and characterization of CHV signals the advent of a new, tractable animal model for hepatitis C,” said Dr. Ian Lipkin, Director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University in a press release. “This discovery provides new tools for understanding how this virus causes disease, and will facilitate drug and vaccine research and development,” he added.

Researchers believe that the virus started among dogs, and later evolved into a disease that affected humans. Such inter-species transmission is not uncommon considering that about 70 percent of infectious diseases have been found to be transmitted from animals to humans. Experts are now pushing for more expansive canine research across the globe with the hopes of eventually mobilizing antiretroviral and HCV vaccine development.

-Toni Bacala

Gold adds not only luster but also years to life, thanks to the rigorous development of nanotechnology cancer diagnosis at Brown University.

Researchers have found a new way to detect cancer in its early phase using gold nanoparticles in x-ray imaging. This technology is particularly promising in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.

Late cancer detection remains a big culprit for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The capacity of standard cancer diagnostic techniques such as MRI scans, CT and ultrasound identifies cancerous cells that measure three centimeters. At this size, the cancer is understood to already be acute.

For the first time, researchers have developed a technology that can detect a tumor mass as small as five millimeters. Gold nanoparticles are coated with polyelectrolyte to make detect small tumors visible in x-ray imaging. The charged polymer layer boosts enables the gold nanoparticles to be absorbed by cancerous cells. X-ray scattering is then employed to detect where the gold nanoparticles have concentrated in malignant cells the liver.

Patients who exhibit risk factors closely associated with cancer can be examined with gold nanotechnology for possible cancerous growth. Researchers are already developing ways to integrate antibodies in nanoparticles to identify earlier cancerous growth in the liver as well as in other organs.

The full development of this cancer diagnostic technique holds a crucial chance in the battle against hepatocellular carcinoma. Most patients with this type of liver cancer do not respond well to chemotherapy. While liver transplant is the most effective treatment, getting a healthy liver is a very long shot. Of those who opt for liver surgery, only twenty percent result in the complete removal of the tumor. Early detection of malignant cells can do so much for the survival of about 500,000 people across the globe who are diagnosed with this liver cancer every year.

-Toni Bacala

Photo Credit: ShoeDazzle

Fashion designer and television icon Carson Kressley transforms shoe-shopping into a charitable celebration as he designs for ShoeDazzle’s “Celebrity Shoe Design Program for Charity” to benefit the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation (ADRLF).

Kressley’s “Go for Brogue” is a brilliant fusion of classic elegance and modern flare in men’s wear-inspired black and white tasseled pumps.

“Go for Brogue” will hit online retail on September 21. We at the ADRLF are thrilled!

ShoeDazzle is today’s leading online fashion hotspot, featuring personalized styling and shopping services, and up-to-date collections of shoes, handbags and jewelry designed by the country’s top celebrity stylists. The “Celebrity Shoe Design Program for Charity” was launched in 2009 to promote urgent social issues and help non-profit causes through fashion. Among the program’s celebrity designers are Kristen Bell, Carmen Electra, Jenny McCarthy and Kristin Cavallari.

Kressley is notably the program’s first male designer, and is recognized not only for his renowned flair in styling, but also for his philanthropic projects.

“My goal was to raise awareness for The Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation,” Kressley said in a press release, “while designing a fashionable, fun fall shoe that women can fall in love with!”

Profits gained from the sale of Kressley’s design will go to ADRLF, in which Kressley is also a board member.

“Go For Brogue” is among Kressley’s bold steps towards sharing his fashion sense to promote self confidence, celebrate diversity, and encourage tolerance. He also hosts the reality show “Carson Nation” on Oprah Winfrey Network where he takes the transformative power of fashion to small towns across the U.S.

– Toni Bacala

Get connected, share your thoughts, and get involved!

Stay up to date with ADRLF’s blog, bringing you the latest news, events, and inspiring stories on liver health, Hepatitis B and liver cancers.

ADRLF is a non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting awareness, screening, prevention, and treatment of Hepatitis virus and liver cancer. Inspired by the memory of our friend Al D. Rodriguez, we are fully committed to mobilizing an advocacy community and reaching out to a global community in an interactive dialogue on liver health, disease prevention, and treatment.

ADRLF holds successful benefits, seminars and screenings for its growing community of supporters. Last year’s events included ADRLF’s annual benefit, the star-studded “Broadway Takes the Runway” in 2010, as well as a successful screening drive in partnership with The Actors Fund to provide free Hepatitis B screenings for at risk underinsured persons.

We invite you to read our blog where we promise to provide relevant updates, exchange stories of hope and courage, and engage in educating families, friends, and our community on the perils of liver cancer.

Share your thoughts, comments, and images. We’re all in this together.

*SAVE THE DATE*

Monday, October 4th, 2010

“BROADWAY TAKES THE RUNWAY”

The 2nd Annual ADRLF Benefit

Location: NYC!

Go To: www.broadwaytakestherunway.com