Halloween Spooktacular Helps Raise Money for Diabetes Research

Press release provided by Laurel Fairworth to Patch.

Most of us can’t wait for Halloween and the sugary confections it brings.  Chocolate bars, candy corn and Peeps are given out in abundance to the delight of children and adults alike.  Perhaps that is why there is an alarming spike in the incidents of diabetes Type 1 and 2.  Now researchers at the City of Hope are working feverishly to find a cure and believe they have made a breakthrough. According to COH experts they are “mixing donor bone marrow with a body’s own in order to encourage new growth of beta cells”. Tests so far show this method has reversed diabetes in 60% of the cases. COH is looking to get the procedure approved for human clinical trials and is very optimistic about the outcome.

However the research is expensive. To raise needed funds Dr. Susan Hughes of the Hughes Center of Aesthetic Medicine is hosting a Halloween charity event called Spooktacular.  On Saturday October 20, 2012 from 10-2 PM 6 Esterbrook Lane in Cherry Hill will be turned into a haunted house.  When the clock strikes noon thrills will be provided by Tiffany’s.  A pumpkin patch will be filled with all sorts of prizes such as IPads, Coach, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade pocketbooks, glycolic peels, microderm abrasions, laser treatments and much more. Meet Kathy Wakile from the hit TV reality show the Real Housewives of New Jersey and learn beauty secrets from Bravo’s own make-up artist, a real trick and treat!  

“We really want to support the City of Hope in their efforts to find a cure for diabetes and thought this theme would drive home the point” explained Dr. Susan Hughes, of the Hughes Center for Aesthetic Medicine with five locations in the area.

Approximately 25 million adults suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes with the incidents of Type 1 increasing around the globe at a rate of from 3-5% a year. Researchers at the City of Hope are racing to reverse this trend or at least slow it down.  

“It is through local efforts such as these that we raise the monies necessary to fund the research that will finally put an end to this disease.  We are thrilled” said Harry Gordano, Executive Director of the COH’s Philadelphia chapter.