In addition to raising money for the Gail’s Angels Foundation, we will also be making private donations to a couple other causes that are close to our hearts.

The Derek’s Dream Mission

The following is the story of Anthony’s high school football coach’s son who faces a severe disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia, also known as A-T.

Derek DiGregorio smiles easily, wrestles with his brothers, works hard to get his school work done and spends his free time pursuing his athletic championships in taekwondo. In other words, he’s very much like any other 12-year-old boy in many ways.

In one major way, though, Derek’s world is sadly different from the majority of children his age. Today, and every day, Derek faces a hideous genetic disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia, which affects three people out of every million and offers the grim prognosis of a life expectancy unlikely to reach much past 20 years.

Derek, his family, and their friends are not giving in to this opponent. Instead, they have together created Derek’s Dreams, a group dedicated to raising the awareness and resources necessary to combat Ataxia Telangiectasia.

The group’s goal is twofold. First, there are the needs of Derek himself, which will only increase during the next few years and which will make normal day-to-day life difficult. Second, there is the more global desire to attack the disease itself, so that future children and families can have a better chance against Ataxia Telangiectasia. This will involve working with government agencies and private organizations to fund greater research and support efforts.

Derek’s dream is to live as long and happy a life as possible, surrounded by friends and family, able to pursue his education, goals and hobbies. Derek’s Dreams is committed to making it happen. www.dereksdreams.com