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Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Gala To Benefit Those With Brittle Bone Disease

Anyone who has ever broken a bone or read Jodi Picoult's book, Handle With Care, has a sense of what a person, especially a child, goes through when they have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease.

You are invited to participate in a Gala fundraising event sponsored by the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF) Saturday, September 30 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington, downtown Chicago from 6 - 10 p.m.

Your ticket includes all you can eat and an open bar, access to dozens of auction items and a chance to help the OIF respond to more than 7,000 inquiries each year for medically verified information and support.

According to the OIF, approximately 50,000 people in the United States are affected by OI. The disease's characteristics vary from person to person. In many cases, hundreds of bones can be broken or fractured before a child reaches puberty. Many people with OI may have restricted physical activity, may require mobility aids (like wheelchairs and walkers), are of short stature and may suffer from hearing loss, respiratory complications or problems with their teeth.

OI is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the body's ability to produce collagen. Collagen is the major protein in the body's connective tissue. It is part of the framework that all organs including bones, lungs and skin are formed around. In all cases of OI, the bones are fragile and can easily break. It may be passed to the child from the parents or be a result of a spontaneous mutation.

Please plan to attend this wonderful event. Tickets are $100 for singles, $180 for couples, or a table of ten reserved for you and your friends for $850. Tickets and/or donations are available at www.OIF.org/StongBonesChicago.

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