Community Rallies Support for Girl Afflicted with a Rare Form of Muscular Dystrophy

GREENWICH, CT - It takes a village to help those around you in need and that was evident Saturday.

And the Greenwich-based service agency, Needs Clearing House, is leading the charge for a seven-year-old girl suffering from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Cintia Balog lives with her family in Bridgeport after immigrating from their native Hungary.

Since learning about Cintia’s medical needs, Needs Clearing House has spent the last six weeks raising money and arranging for the purchase of or the commitment to donate more than $4,000 worth of durable medical supplies including braces for her legs and back.

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The commitments and contributions of five other charities — Amy's Angels, the Building Hope Foundation, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Chicken Joe's Ride for Kids and Helping Hands Outreach, along with several individuals from Greenwich, Bridgeport and across Fairfield County, joined the effort, according to Joe Kaliko, co-founder of Needs Clearing House.

Their successful work led to the presentation of a $10,000 check to Cintia and her family on Saturday. The Student Nurses Assn of Connecticut and Sacred Heart University, who are evaluating how they can help Cintia, also gave the youngster a giant teddy bear.

According to Kaliko, a review of Cintia’s medical history by world class genetic scientists, including Dr. Marc Lalande of the University of Connecticut and Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Charles Lee of Jackson Labs, also has been arranged. It is hoped the scientists will be able to identify genetic tests to help chart a course of treatment for Cintia's disease.

Kaliko said, “The family had been quoted (a price of) over $30,000 for such genetic tests which are likely to now be performed at little or no cost.

For more information about Needs Clearing House or to make a donation, visit theneedsclearinghouse.org or call Kaliko at 203-629-5555.

Photos courtesy of Joe Kaliko. Cintia and her family with students nurses from Sacred Heart University.