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Passion and Purpose: An Interview with Brandi Howell, Member of Athletes for Real Medicine

December 21, 2010 in Athletes for Real Medicine, Donate, General, Initiatives, Los Angeles, North America by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Get to know the Athletes for Real Medicine through the “Passion and Purpose” interview series.  Leading up the the L.A. Marathon, we will be posting monthly interviews as well as additional Athletes for RMF updates here on the Real Medicine Foundation blog.   So, stay tuned…

Interview with Athletes for Real Medicine team member Brandi Howell:

Athletes for Real Medicine team member, Brandi Howell

Q: How/why did you initially get involved with Real Medicine Foundation?

A: I attended a professional networking breakfast back in 2008 and was fatefully seated next to Real Med’s founder, Martina Fuchs.  When it was her turn to speak, she lit up with passion and conviction as she described her non-profit.  A bleeding heart myself, I was mesmerized by her compassion and dedication to this cause.  The Real Med initiatives of providing basic health care and education to impoverished people cried out to me.  I knew I had to be a part of it.  One year later, Martina and I were catching up over coffee and I mentioned that I was training for the 2010 L.A. Marathon.  She proposed that I run with Athletes for Real Med and of course I did.  That was the beginning of what I hope to be a long relationship with Real Medicine Foundation.

Q: What inspired you to run the L.A. Marathon in 2010 with Athletes for Real Medicine Official Charity Team?

A:  When Martina mentioned that Athletes for Real Medicine needed more runners for the L.A. Marathon, it was November of 2009 and I was already training for the 2010 Boston Marathon.  I wanted to help out and was prepared to do so.  I have always been a runner, but running with an important cause in mind is a very different experience.  It creates the kind of inspiration that gives you shivers of joy and perseverance.  It motivates you to get out of bed at 7am on a cold Sunday morning to train with the team.  It gives meaning to the sweat and exhaustion that you must endure to finish the race.

Q: Tell us a little bit about Athletes for Real Medicine.

A:  Athletes for Real Medicine is a team of amazing individuals who have committed what little free time they have to training and fundraising for Real Medicine Foundation.  Whether they be moved by providing food to malnourished children in India or providing basic health care to low-income kids in Los Angeles, each team member is dedicated to bettering themselves and to serving those in need.

Q:  Real Medicine is in 15 different countries and involved with many different programs.  If you were going to visit one of RMF’s projects, which one would you choose and why?

A:  It would be difficult to choose just one because I am drawn to many of the programs and places.  I believe that it’s important to witness the hardships taking place in the rest of the world.  The more contact we have with these realities, the more inclined we are to work towards fixing the problems.  But, I might start with the HIV/Aids Outreach and Prevention Program in rural India.  Providing the Indian female sex workers with the tools to protect themselves and those with whom they come into contact is an initiative of utmost importance.

Q:  You’re planning on running the L.A. Marathon in 2011.  Is there any particular country or cause that you’re fundraising for?

A:  I am just trying to raise as much money as I can and will let directors of Real Medicine Foundation figure out which program needs it the most.  I trust their judgement.

Q:  Do you have any running/training secrets that help you to prepare for the big day?

A:  A few of the more important tips would be to train consistently and gradually.  Trying to rush into a 10 mile run is a sure way of getting injured.  Listen to your body and be easy on yourself.  If you feel pain or fatigue, take an extra day off and ice your sore spots.  Stretch, stretch, stretch.  I’m also a dedicated yogi, so I truly believe in stretching out and massaging your muscles.  Cross-training is also important.  Take at least one day a week to hike, ride bikes, swim…whatever you enjoy.

Q:  What words of wisdom would you share with the first-time marathoners out there?

A:  Have fun with it!  The journey is the destination–the inner journey of long-distance running is a great opportunity to be introspective and observe the mind, its challenges, highs, lows, and fleeting euphoric moments…it’s a trip.  And remember that running is as mental as it is physical.  So, when your mind starts to defeat you, find inspiration wherever you can.  Think about something bigger than you, like saving lives in Africa…

For more information about RMF’s Athletes for Real Medicine, click here.

Folllow us on Twitter or our Athletes for Real Medicine Facebook page or our Group page on Facebook

To contribute to RMF, please click the Donate button below or visit our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

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Hot off the presses: Our 2009/2010 Annual Report!

December 8, 2010 in Africa, Armenia, Asia, Athletes for Real Medicine, Caitlin McQuilling, Disaster Relief, Donate, Europe, Events, General, Germany, Haiti, Helping Children, In the news, India, Indonesia, Initiatives, Jaimie Shaff, Jonathan White, Kenya, Los Angeles, Mission, Mozambique, Nigeria, North America, Pakistan, Partners, Peru, Providing Medical Support, Rebuilding Communities, South America, Sri Lanka, Strategies for the Future, Sudan, Uganda, Voices from the Field, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

For full PDF version of our report, please click on the link below:

RMF ANNUAL REPORT 2009/2010

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Passion and Purpose: An Interview with Emmanuel, Member of Athletes for Real Medicine

December 2, 2010 in Athletes for Real Medicine, Disaster Relief, Donate, Los Angeles, North America, Providing Medical Support, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Athletes for Real Medicine member, Emmanuel Urbano

By Brandi Howell

Get to know the Athletes for Real Medicine through the “Passion and Purpose” interview series.  Leading up the the L.A. Marathon, we will be posting monthly interviews as well as additional Athletes for RMF updates here on the Real Medicine Foundation blog.   So, stay tuned…

Interview with Athletes for Real Medicine team member Emmanuel Urbano by fellow team member Brandi Howell:

Q: How/why did you initially get involved with Real Medicine Foundation?

A: I met Martina [founder of Real Medicine] in 2009 through a mentor program put on by my employer, Fox, and have been involved ever

since.

Q: What inspired you to run the L.A. Marathon in 2010 with Athletes for Real Medicine Official Charity Team?

A: I’ve always wanted to “run for a cause” and RMF was something that I felt strongly about raising money for.

Q:  Real Medicine is in 15 different countries and involved with many different programs.  If you were going to visit one of RMF’s projects, which one would you choose and why?

A: I’ve always wanted to visit a country in Africa, so anywhere in Africa.

Q:  You’re planning on running the L.A. Marathon in 2011.  Is there any particular country or cause that you’re fundraising for?

A: Not really, just wherever they need the money the most.

Q:  Do you have any running/training secrets that help you to prepare for the big day?

A: No “secrets,” but definitely hydrate and eat a healthy meal the night before.

Q:  What words of wisdom would you share with the first-time marathoners out there?

A: Run your OWN race. Don’t get caught up in the excitement and start off too fast.

For more information about RMF’s Athletes for Real Medicine, click here.

Folllow us on Twitter or our Athletes for Real Medicine Facebook page or our Group page on Facebook

To contribute to RMF, please click the Donate button below or visit our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

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Passion and Purpose: An Interview with Lisa Suen, Member of Athletes for Real Medicine

November 18, 2010 in Athletes for Real Medicine, Donate, Helping Children, India, Los Angeles, Providing Medical Support by Jonathan White | Comments closed

by Brandi Howell

Get to know the Athletes for Real Medicine through the “Passion and Purpose” interview series.  Leading up the the L.A. Marathon, we will be posting monthly interviews as well as additional Athletes for RMF updates here on the Real Medicine Foundation blog.   So, stay tuned…

Interview with Athletes for Real Medicine team member Lisa Suen by fellow team member Brandi Howell:

Lisa Suen, on the right

Q: How/why did you initially get involved with Real Medicine Foundation?

A:  At the beginning of 2010, I set a resolution to “do with a purpose”, meaning that I wanted to combine the things I loved to do with helping others – such as running my next marathon for a cause. It was during this year’s 2010 LA Marathon that I became aware of Real Medicine Foundation and its initiatives. After talking to the coordinator and reading up on their projects, I knew that Real Medicine Foundation was a charity whose values were in line with my own – providing long-term sustainable support to impoverished or disaster-stricken countries. These situations are often out of the local people’s control, so giving them hope and a way to better their situation was a value I was seeking out of a nonprofit.

Q: What inspired you to run the L.A. Marathon in 2010 with Athletes for Real Medicine Official Charity Team?

A:  After going through all the official charities for the LA Marathon (over twenty of them), Real Medicine Foundation stood out. They were a charity that I felt were in it for “the long run” when it came to providing humanitarian assistance.  I felt further drawn to their mission when I found out they were going to Haiti to provide support after the earthquake. That’s when I knew – this is who I’m going to run for.  In addition to their initiatives, I discovered that 92% of the funds raised would be directed to Haiti (the project of my choice).  This was especially motivating in my fundraising and training, as it was important to me to know that the end result would deliver clean water, food and medical supplies to the victims of Haiti.

Q: Tell us a little bit about Athletes for Real Medicine.

A:  Athletes for Real Medicine in my eyes is a community of athletes of all different abilities bound together through their support of a universal cause. It’s knowing as an athlete who excels in his or her own sport,  that he or she can transform that high-level of passion into helping others by supporting the Real Medicine Foundation.

Q: You went abroad to India to work alongside Real Medicine Foundation on their Malnutrition Program.  What were some of the highlights of that trip?

Baby William and mother

A:  The main highlight that sticks out in my mind even today is a baby named William in the village of Devigrah, just outside of the town where we stayed and where the Malnutrition clinic was based. We went on a field visit to identify any babies that were at risk for severe malnutrition. This is when we met William. He was already over a year old but had the appearance of a 6 month old. His eyes were glazed and watery, hair lacking pigment and he appeared extremely fatigued.  He suffered from severe malnutrition. Had the nutrition coordinators not identified him at that moment, he may have become another statistic in the overwhelmingly high malnutrition rates across India’s poorest states– rates that are even higher than in Africa, to my surprise! He was quickly referred to the nutrition center and began treatment. I was in India in May.  In November, I received word from India that Baby William is doing very well! The beauty of his story is: success, one child at a time.  This mission statement was established by Real Medicine Foundation in 2005 with the children in Sri Lanka, and it holds true today whether for a local child in Los Angeles or across the globe in India.
(Here is the link to the blog to give you some perspective http://www.realmedicineblog.com/2010/06/08/baby-williams-story-one-child-at-a-time-in-madhya-pradesh-india/#more-8377)

More malnutrition treatment success stories from our project here and here.

Q:  Real Medicine is in 14 other countries.  Why did you choose India?

Lisa at the Taj Mahal

A:  I would have to say that this went back to my personal “do with a purpose” goal for this year. I wanted to go to India for the sake of culture, yoga and history for my personal enjoyment. However, I wanted to tie that in with volunteering abroad. This is where fate intertwined my two purposes in India. Additionally, malnutrition eradication was a project I felt so passionate about. I believe that basic necessities, such as food, water, health and shelter are rights for everyone. These are fortunes I am blessed with everyday and it truly pained me to know that so many were without these basics throughout the rest of the world. No child should ever die because he or she does not have enough to eat.  Knowing that as many as 6 million children under the age of 5 were malnourished in India, I wanted to help in whatever way possible.

Q:  You’re planning on running the L.A. Marathon in 2011.  Is there any particular country or cause that you’re fundraising for?

A: I think my “theme” for next year will be “sustainability”. I find that it helps me with my yearly goals when I stick to a simple theme. With that, I will run for Haiti and India – two projects that I started supporting in 2010 and hope to sustain in 2011.

Q:  What words of wisdom would you share with the first-time marathoners out there?

A: Determination and passion for something greater will get you to the finish line. Step by step, mile by mile, you’ll get there, but enjoy the scenery and enjoy the “now” moment. To sum it up best, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Confucius – as is true in the marathon and in life. So press on!

For more information about RMF’s Athletes for Real Medicine, click here.

Folllow us on Twitter or our Athletes for Real Medicine Facebook page or our Group page on Facebook

To contribute to RMF, please click the Donate button below or visit our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.


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Attention Athletes for Real Medicine: Last day to register for LA Marathon!

November 17, 2010 in Athletes for Real Medicine, Donate, Events, Los Angeles, North America by Jonathan White | Comments closed

You only have one day left to enter the Honda LA Marathon in time to win a VIP race weekend experience, Lakers’ tickets and other prizes!

All Honda LA Marathon participants who have registered by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 17th will be entered into a sweepstakes to receive one of the following prizes:

  • VIP race weekend, including 2 nights at the Fairmont Miramar hotel (steps from the finish line!), Dinner for two at Hillstone, and a limo to the race start.
  • Two field level seats, with parking, to any LA Dodgers regular season home game in the 2011 season.
  • Two tickets to the Lakers – Timberwolves game on Friday, March 18, 2011
  • A $100 shopping spree at the K-Swiss store in Santa Monica.
  • One year’s supply (26 bags) of Don Francisco’s Coffee.

No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Complete details and rules are here.

More information about the Athletes for Real Medicine team here.

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India: On the road—Migration and HIV/AIDS

November 15, 2010 in Asia, Donate, India, Jaimie Shaff, Providing Medical Support, Voices from the Field, Whole Health by Jonathan White | Comments closed

by Jaimie Shaff

Street Play

Far from Jack Kerouac’s spontaneous journeys of self-discovery across the United States, here in Jhabua migration is a fact of life, with an averageof 60% of the population migrating seasonally for work. Our calendars revolve around crop cycles, and all holidays and planned family events coincide with the comings and goings of relatives and members of the village.  The locals know the bus and train schedules by heart, and special migrant buses are scheduled to carry the farmers away for work in other parts of the state, or other states in the country. As the rains diminish at the end of monsoon season, communities prepare for a sequence of migration that lasts until the next monsoon. The children and wives that stay behind are supported by the village, and the children and wives that leave prepare for life on the road—although little preparation is required as this is routine and material possessions are few.

However, life on the road comes with its share of risk. Women and children are affected, going and staying, experiencing heightened levels of vulnerability and malnutrition. And then of course there’s HIV/AIDS. Globally, migrant men are considered a bridge population for HIV/AIDS, due to access to higher prevalence zones and increased participation in risky behaviors. The scariest factor of all of this is the lack of awareness of the risk: according to our baseline data, 99.4% of men migrating in Jhabua have never heard of HIV.

Migrants at Train Station

In October 2010, MPSACS enlisted RMF-India to roll out a pilot program addressing HIV/AIDS with migrant populations in Jhabua.  The goal of the pilot is to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among migrants, targeting the points of transit (bus and jeep stands, railroad stations) with street plays, videos, handouts, and condoms.

Newspaper articles about the street plays

On November 9, 2010, RMF launched the pilot to reduce the number of people who have never heard of HIV and bring awareness to this bridge population of HIV/AIDS signs and symptoms, method of transmission, and prevention. Targeting the post-Diwali migrant crowd, program staff set up programs at two bus and jeep stands and one train station.  A local theater troupe (including a staff member from the NRC) created a play focusing on stigma and transmission, and a good friend in New York, Ramon Rodriguez, created a ‘Stop AIDS’ illustration to develop new awareness materials with. In the first week of the program, 1815 people were reached and 10,000 condoms were handed out!

The global battle against HIV/AIDS is multifaceted and we’re all still trying to figure out the best way to reduce transmission, increase awareness, and empower the global community to take a stand against HIV/AIDS. As climate changes force people from their homes in search of livelihood, migration will become an ever-increasing factor in the fight. This pilot is a first step in the creation of awareness and prevention messages for all migrants, present and future. This is a great first step on behalf of the Indian government and RMF to stop HIV/AIDS at the source. Through collaboration and partnerships, we are able to create the most effective tools to bring awareness to large populations and take a stand to stop HIV/AIDS.

For more information about RMF’s HIV/AIDS treatment, education and outreach programs in India, click here.

Folllow us on Twitter or Facebook

To contribute to this or any of our other initiatives, please click the Donate button below or through our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

RMF-LA Marathon kickoff event at The Vault XXI

November 2, 2010 in Athletes for Real Medicine, Donate, Events, Los Angeles by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Join us at The Vault XXI as we kickoff for the LA marathon team! This will be a beer and wine event, and our discounted happy hour drinks will go toward our cause. By the time Thursday November 4th rolls around, if you haven’t found running/training partners, this will be the place you come to meet them. See you all there!

Note: The Vault XXI is a yelp.com 4.5 star lounge so dress to impress, no running shoes!

To become an Athlete for the Real Medicine Foundation (RMF), there is a low fundraising minimum of only $100 and don’t forget to ask us how to get your race entry fee reimbursed! We also offer Sole Runner’s Training program (www.SoleRunners.net) to all RMF runners. 92% of donations will go directly to the project of your choice and you can choose from a number of projects in 15 different countries. The top fundraiser will win a 5 night stay in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii. Sign up today to make a difference!

For more information, contact Lisa Suen at lisa.suen@realmedicinefoundation.org or visit our website at www.RealMedicineFoundation.org

Los Angeles: Athletes for Real Medicine Meet and Greet Event

October 14, 2010 in Donate, Events, Los Angeles, Partners by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Athletes for Real Medicine Meet & Greet

L.A. Marathon Official Charity Team

When: Oct. 20th, 2010, 6:30 pm

Where: West 4th & Jane

Calling all Athletes for Real Medicine!

It’s time to party!

Kicking off the season, we’d like to invite you to our first Athletes for Real Medicine Meet and Greet.

As runners (and supporters) for the Athletes for Real Medicine L.A. Marathon Charity Team, we all deserve to reward our hard work and intense training schedules with some FUN!

Come grab a drink, a bite and some team spirit at West 4th and Jane in Santa Monica.

Hope to see you there!

West 4th & Jane

1432A 4th St.

Santa Monica, CA

www.realmedicinefoundation.org

www.west4thjane.com

www.lamarathon.com

RMF holds hugely successful relief effort in Pakistan this past weekend

September 29, 2010 in Disaster Relief, Donate, General, Helping Children, Pakistan, Providing Medical Support by Jonathan White | Comments closed

Doctors and local officials at Saturday camp

This past Saturday September 25th and Sunday the 26th, Real Medicine Foundation held our third and fourth Free Medical Camps for Flood Victims in Aman Garh (Pabbi Tehsil), Nowshera District, Pakistan.  This most recent outreach effort was very effective, treating over 4,600 patients in two days, and was made possible by a generous charitable grant by Google Inc. and other individual donations.

In total

  • 2,365 patients were treated on Saturday, September 25
  • 2,291 patients were treated on Sunday, September 26
  • A total of 4,656 patients were treated in 2 days

Of these 4,656 patients

70% were female

  • 30% were male
  • 27% were children

Since the team consisted of 40 medical doctors (19 on Saturday & 21 on Sunday) representing a wide range of specialties, the final figures of specialized care made possible are as follows:

  • 638 patients – OPD
  • 120 patients – general surgery
  • 560 patients – dermatology
  • 230 patients – ophthalmology
  • 198 patients – ENT
  • 1,257 patients – pediatrics
  • 893 patients – OB/Gyn
  • 100 patients – orthopedics
  • 130 patients – dentistry
  • 374 patients – miscellaneous, such as general body aches (not specifically to categorize according to WHO criteria)
  • 210 patients presented with illnesses such as severe gastroenteritis with dehydration,  suspected meningitis, acute abdomen , burns, acute appendicitis, severe injuries, major infected wounds and acute jaundice syndrome. They were referred to tertiary hospitals for follow up and advanced care. Our team of doctors will be able to follow these patients at the hospitals they work.

The response from the community was tremendous. Since this camp was registered and approved of by Government officials, politicians and religious leaders were grateful and appreciative.  Patients arrived from more than 12 surrounding villages since the medical camp location we had chosen was strategically and centrally located.

There continues to be an enormous need to hold relief efforts like these all over Pakistan and we will continue to offer these medical camps as long as our funding allows.

Folllow us on Twitter or Facebook

For more information about our Flood Relief Efforts, please visit our website.

To contribute to our Flood Relief Efforts, please click the Donate button below or through our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.


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Kenya: Stories from the field in Turkana

August 30, 2010 in Disaster Relief, Donate, Kenya, Providing Medical Support by Jonathan White | Comments closed

By Derrick Lowoto, Clinical Officer

Derrick seeing a patient at an outreach camp

Our health care outreach program in collaboration with Share International and Medical Mission International serves the area of Turkana Kenya. The aim is to improve the delivery of primary Health Care Services within the Turkana Drought Region in Northern Kenya, its capital Lodwar and the people living in the remote villages of Turkana, Kenya.

The following are some patient success stories told by Derrick Lowoto, the Clinical Officer, over the past three months from Turkana.

“Lokorio is a 45 year male patient from Kerio 68 km east of Lodwar.  He has been sick for the last two years. In course of his sickness, he visited several witch doctors for treatment but with no success. After losing several of his animals to these witchdoctors he decided to make the journey to the hospital for treatment. He first went to Lodwar district hospital for treatment but after completion of treatment he was still sick. Later, he was brought to RMF/SI clinic in Lodwar for treatment by a relative.  After a week, Ekai visited the clinic again with improvement from his chronic itchy skin disease. A month later he visited the clinic with no skin disease and is clear of all other symptoms.”

“Agnes Lokaala is 68 years from Nakabaran village and has had chronic pelvic inflammatory disease for seven years that caused her difficulty in walking.  Past medical history indicated her of having visited several hospitals for same problem but all in vain. One morning Nakabaran church pastor called us of having sick patient who need referral. We brought the patient to the facility and we started on –Norflaxicin for six weeks. After treatment she was well and able to walk.  Agnes is among the many who receive services offered by Share International and RMF here in Turkana land and they are grateful of it and pray for SI and other partners.”

“Mr. Edapal Lokai, 82 years old and from Chokchok Village has been suffering from a chronic urinary infection for the past 3 years in a far village about 150 km north of Lodwar.  He moved to Chokchok Village to be nearer health facilities for treatment. He has been going to Lodwar District Hospital for treatment but remains sick.   During the special clinic in June, we treated him in his own village, but he remained symptomatic.  Last month, we held a mobile clinic in Chokchok Village and found he was still sick. We prescribed him Augmentin tablets for seven days. Two weeks later, I visited him and found him in a fair state. During the visit, I gave him Norfloxacin for a two week course.  After two weeks, I called the pastor of the village to confirm the state of the patient.  (The pastors are usually the only persons in the village with a cellular phone.)   The pastor said he was doing well.  After one more week, I visited him and found him in much better condition. He was a changed man in terms of health.  He had lost hope in life, but now he hopes to live long.”

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