February 28th National Rare Disease Day

EAST students Alyssa Wilson, Elizabeth Crawford, and Charlie Mock proudly watched as Mayor Seth Smith signed a Proclamation last Thursday recognizing Feb. 28th as a local day to focus on National Rare Diseases.  February 28, 2019 is the National Day for Rare Diseases and now Mena and the surrounding community has a platform to initiate discussions, support and fundraising.

These girls have chosen this platform because it is near and dear to their hearts as Charlie suffers from multiple hereditary exotosis, a condition where bone spurs form on the long bones in her body.  She was diagnosed at the age of 4 and since has had the desire to reach out to others.  The girls, under the direction of EAST instructor Melissa Lunsford, chose to bring rare diseases and how they affect children to the attention of the community.  They have been working on this throughout the school year.  Their endeavor has led to the proclamation by the mayor.

Earlier in the month, the girls addressed Mena Regional Health System employees and community leaders.  This meeting impacted health officials to look into the formation of a support group for individuals and/or family members of individuals who live in the surrounding areas and are affected by a rare disease.  The trio has also planned a fundraiser:  Scoop for a Cure, to be held at Suzy Q’s on February 28^th from 7-8pm.

While the EAST project began as a class directive, which would translate to a grade for these three, it has transformed into much more and is the epitome of the goal for EAST.

EAST (Education Advanced by Service and Technology) allows students and teachers professional technology and software for use in a loosely structured, self-driven environment. Instructors, otherwise known as “facilitators”, maintain a curriculum designed to allow students to familiarize themselves with such technology while helping their community and/or school.  It is a little known fact that EAST began with one classroom in Greenbrier, Arkansas in 1996.

Pictured:  Mayor Seth Smith, Alyssa Wilson, Charlie Mock, and Elizabeth Crawford

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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