Custom Creations for Charity
Hi Everybody!
Since our inception, PurePearls.com has been heavily involved in giving to various charity organizations- the ones that are nearest and dearest to our hearts deal with the children who need the most help of all! Autism, cancer treatments, speech development and diabetes are just a few of the charities and organizations that we donate or try to raise awareness of every year. We’ve added a new one to our list!
We are proud to announce that we’ve begun working with the Foundation for Children with atypical HUS. This amazing foundation was formed and administered by Linda Burke and her brother Steve Greene, who are trying to fund the search for a cure for aHUS. Atypical HUS is a rare genetic disorder that affects the kidneys, and children diagnosed with aHUS are at very high risk for chronic complications like kidney failure and severely high blood pressure… not much is known about this deadly disorder that can devastate the lives of children and their families, except that aHUS disorder involves mutations on a chain of proteins called factor H. Factor H contains 20 chain proteins that allow our bodies to fight infections; in aHUS patients, the last 5 of proteins in that chain do not process amino acids properly, resulting in deadly illness.
It was this chain of proteins that led to a “Eureka!” moment for Linda Burke and Steven Greene; they decided to contact a pearl company (Us!) to see if they could have a very special bracelet made that symbolized the 15 white (known) proteins and 5 black (unknown) proteins using Freshwater pearls. The bracelet below is the result of their brilliant idea and our collaborative efforts, and can be found on their website: atypicalhus.org. The black and white Freshwater pearl bracelets have a 14K Yellow Gold Filigree Disc clasp and a laser-engraved 14K Gold charm inscribed with aHUS. The charm bracelets retail for $295.00 each and the proceeds go directly to funding research for a cure for aHUS, and we’d like to take a moment to urge everyone to follow the link to the atypicalhus.org website and either purchase a bracelet or donate today to help Mrs. Burke and Mr. Greene in their search for a cure.
Tags: aHUS, aHUS pearls, black and white jewelry, charity, custom bracelet, freshwater pearl bracelet, pearls for charity
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Many thanks for creating such an elegant and meaningful pearl bracelet on behalf of the Foundation for Children with atypical HUS (Bill Biermann, Director). Designed by Steve Greene, president of Alpha Marketing and uncle to two little boys with aHUS, this beautiful bracelet is a luxurious representation of a biochemical fact: a protein called “factor H” that is produced in the liver. Unlike healthy individuals, many aHUS children have a high percentage of genetic mutations in one of the five last SCRs in a Factor H protein.
Crafted with superior materials and skill, this attractive custom design represents the normal sections of the protein (white pearls) followed by the remainder of the protein affected by genetic mutations (black pearls) that can cause this disorder. As a lovely jewelry design, it provides an impression of substantial gracefulness - as a symbol of a rare and chronic disease that affects mostly children, it fosters awareness and support for aHUS families while raising funds to help fight aHUS. Our deepest appreciation and thanks to all of you at Pure Pearls!
September 1st, 2009 at 8:58 pm
That is such a great idea. The piece has quite a unique look, yet is stylish.