Archive for February, 2012

28
Feb
12

Honoring Brain Aneurysm Awareness Week March 12-18th

In 2012, more than 30,000 people in the United States will be affected by a ruptured brain aneurysm.  More than 40% of these aneurysms will prove to be fatal.  As we enter the month of March that will honor Brain Awareness Week March 12-18th, The Joe Niekro Foundation would like to share information about the warning signs of a brain aneurysm.  Research shows that early detection can make a significant difference in the outcome of a brain aneurysm.

Brain Awareness Week will be celebrated from March 12-18, 2012, and will be a global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research.  Each year, Brain Awareness Week campaign combines the efforts of universities, hospitals, government agencies, schools, and professional associations in a week-long celebration of the brain.

The Joe Niekro Foundation is committed to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.  The goal of our organization is to educate people about the dangers of brain aneurysms and save lives by funding vital research and increasing awareness.

Brain aneurysms can affect people of any age and as many as 1 in 15 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm.  Even with today’s advanced nuero-imaging technology, 25% of people are misdiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses for brain aneurysms.  To ensure individuals receive the appropriate care in an emergency situation, it is important to raise awareness of the warning signs and symptoms.

There are many risk factors that doctors and researchers believe may increase your risk of developing an aneurysm or, if you already have an aneurysm, may increase your risk of it rupturing including smoking, hypertension, drug use, infection, tumors, traumatic head injury and a family history of aneurysms.

Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and may only be discovered during tests for another, usually unrelated, condition. In other cases, an unruptured aneurysm will cause problems by pressing on areas within the brain. When this happens, the person may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech, and neck pain, depending on the areas of the brain that are affected and the severity of the aneurysm.

Aneurysms may burst and bleed into the brain, causing serious complications including hemorrhagic stroke, permanent nerve damage or death. Once it has burst, the aneurysm may burst again and rebleed into the brain, and additional aneurysms may also occur. More commonly, rupture may cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage – bleeding into the space between the skull bone and the brain.

Shirts are available in Mens and Ladies styles, in a variety of colors and sell for $14.95 (includes shipping)

The importance of early detection of these sudden and silent killers is critical which is why The Joe Niekro Foundation has embarked on a national initiative called Wanna Get Lucky?  This t-shirt campaign is designed to educate the public on the importance of early detection. Help us save lives by joining this campaign to spread the word of why it’s important to Get Lucky. All monies raised from t-shirts sales goes directly to aneurysm awareness and education.  So as we enter into this critical month of raising the importance of brain aneurysm awareness, please join us by sporting a Wanna Get Lucky? t-shirt.  The life you save…could very well be your own.

Thank you for your support and continued assistance in helping us defeat these silent killers!

 

07
Feb
12

COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTARS TRAILER CHOIR, CHUCK WICKS AND KEITH ANDERSON TEAM UP WITH THE JOE NIEKRO FOUNDATION AND GO TO BAT FOR ANEURYSM RESEARCH

The Knuckle Ball

Trailer Choir, Chuck Wicks and Keith Anderson...Playing for a Cause


Country Music Superstars Trailer Choir, Chuck Wicks and Keith Anderson have teamed up with The Joe Niekro Foundation for a weekend of festivities in Houston, TX, April 27th and 28th.  It’s all in celebration of the 3rd Annual Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life, with proceeds benefitting brain aneurysm research, treatment and education.

Friday, April 27th will kick things off at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar with a special acoustic, in the round performance, beginning at 8P.   Patrons will hear hits like Rockin’ the Beer Gutt, Off the Hillbilly Hook and Shakin’ that Tailgate from Trailer Choir, Stealing Cinderella, All I Ever Wanted and Old School from Chuck Wicks, and Every Time I Hear Your Name, Pickin’ Wildflowers and Lost In This Moment from Keith Anderson.  These hits plus many more will fill the stage and make country music memories, while attendees experience an up close and personal view of these country megastars.

The festivities continue at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, April 28th as the entertainers will be joined by athletes from across the country at the 3rd Annual Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life, as they pay tribute to the beloved 13-year Houston Astros All-Star,  Joe Niekro.  At the peak of his Major League Baseball pitching career, Joe Niekro was famous for his command of the knuckleball, a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. Like a knuckleball, Niekro’s life took an unpredictable path on October 27, 2006, when he died suddenly from a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Niekro served 22 years in the Major Leagues, 13 of those with the Houston Astros.  He became the team’s first 20-game winner, and remains the all-time leader in wins among Astros pitchers.  Teaming up with his brother, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, the two combined for 539 wins over their respective careers making them the most successful brother combination in Major League history.

In honor of his memory, daughter Natalie Niekro created The Joe Niekro Foundation, with a mission to raise funds for brain aneurysm research, treatment and help bring public awareness to this devastating condition affecting as many as 1 in 15 people.

A number of Astros players, along with former MLB, NFL and NBA Stars, will be on hand at the black-tie gala, featuring a reception, formal dinner, silent and live auction (for a list of previous attendees, click here).  Joe’s brother and Hall of Fame pitcher, Phil Niekro will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, with a special presentation of The 2012 Joe Niekro Humanitarian Award to Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner and current Chairman of the Board of the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, J. Kent Friedman.

We invite you to join us for a weekend of fun as we raise money for a condition that is killing thousands every year. For tickets and more information on both events and The Joe Niekro Foundation, visit www.joeniekrofoundation.org/knuckleball.

April 27th – 8P – Country Music Concert

Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, 1031 E. 24th St. Houston, TX 77009

Tickets: $75

April 28th – 6:36P – Knuckle Ball…A Pitch for Life (Joe Niekro’s #36 symbolizes the start time)

Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford Street, Houston, Texas 77002

Tickets: Individual Tickets start at $336, with table sponsorships ranging from $5,036-$25,036.




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