On April 6th of this year, I celebrated my 1 ½ year KIDNEYVERSARY!! How did I celebrate? By preparing for Trial….that was awesome!!! I could only do that due to God’s grace, my prayers were answered and my brother-in-law, Major Allen Buckhalt (US Army Blackhawk Pilot and Iraq/Afghanistan war Veteran) was a match to donate me a kidney and save my life!! As all of you know (BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY THIS WHOLE TIME), I have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) a genetic, life-threatening and incurable disease. There are only two treatments, DIALYSIS or a KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. Most PKD patients have to go on Dialysis and suffer the debilitating effects. The PKD Foundation is changing all that as we march towards TREATMENT and a CURE!!!!
It is not lost on me, that I am now 100% back to normal and Allen is proudly serving us overseas once again!! Living Kidney Donation is phenomenal and we need to encourage everyone to GIVE LIFE!! However, the PKD patient community is on the verge of something amazing—-Through all the $$$$ you have raised with us, we are on the verge of the FIRST EVER PKD DRUG to be released to market!!!!! Not to mention, all the clinical trials still ongoing to develop not only a Treatment but a CURE!!!
As most of you also know the curse of this disease is also the blessing!! It is genetic…….Both Maddie and Carson each have a 50% chance of inheriting this disease……and as you can imagine that “haunts” me each night! But even if you told me tomorrow Maddie and Carson were in the clear, we would never stop fighting this fight. All you have to do is see the devastating effects of PKD on families. I have lost my maternal grandmother, uncle and mother to this disease and I intend on beating it out of existence! Because it is genetic we have made advances that have never been accomplished in other disease research—-because we can isolate the Gene!!!!
This year we are hosting our 8th ANNUAL PKD KIDNEY CASINO FOR A CURE!!! Last year we raised well over $100,000 for the PKD FOUNDATION and this year WITH YOUR HELP, we hope to surpass that Goal!!! WE HAVE CHANGED LOCATIONS this year and are going to Host the event at the University of Miami’s UM Newman Alumni Center at 7 pm. It is a phenomenal venue and we know all of our Friends and Family will enjoy!!!
Bekki and I have recently agreed to Chair the PKD FOUNDERS COUNCIl–where we are accelerating all efforts to have every DOLLAR raised go immediately into PKD Research!! Over $10 Million has been raised in this effort!! With your incredible help the past decade we have raised an additional $600,000 which has funded multiple PKD research projects!!! We will find a cure for PKD in my lifetime!!! I have been given a Second Chance at Life and I will not waste it……I know you will help us with our goal. Many of you have donated in the past and we desperately need your help again!!! Please do what you did last year or if you possibly can—-DO EVEN MORE!!! We want all of you to come to the event, but if you cannot please look at the sponsorship levels and consider being there in spirit with us!!!
I cannot thank each of you enough for your past support and hope that you will continue to support our efforts this year. If you cannot join us on Saturday, May, 19th, you can still donate to our cause. NO donation is too small. Checks should be made payable to the PKD Foundation and can be mailed directly to The Haggard Law Firm, 330 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134. ATTN: Sibyl Fernandez. The attached document also allows you to RSVP, sponsor a table, purchase tickets or donate directly to the PKD Foundation. The Kidney Casino Night is live on the PKD Foundation’s website so you can RSVP and register online
using a credit card!! Visit http://bit.ly/kidneycasinoforacure
Please consider Becoming a Sponsor
Platinum All in Presenting Sponsor: $10,000 (The Haggard Law Firm)
- Diamond “Double Down” Sponsor: $5000 – Includes 12 tickets to the event (each event ticket includes 2 complimentary drink tickets and “fun money” for the casino), prominent listing on invitation & website and signage at the event
- High Roller Sponsor: $2500 – Includes 6 tickets to the event (each event ticket includes 2 complimentary drink tickets and “fun money” for the casino), prominent listing on invitation & website and signage at the event
- Lucky 777 Sponsor: $1000 – Includes 4 tickets to the event (each event ticket includes 2 complimentary drink tickets and “fun money” for the casino), prominent listing on invitation & website and signage at the event
- Full House Sponsor: $500 – Includes 2 tickets to the event (each ticket includes 2 complimentary drink tickets and “fun money” for the casino), listing on invitation & website and signage at the event
- Single tickets: $125.00 or $200.00 per couple PRE-SALE, $125.00 each ticket at the door – Each event ticket includes 2 drink tickets and “fun money” for the casino
Thanks again and I really hope to see you on SATURDAY MAY 19TH!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael A. Haggard | Managing Partner
T: 305.446.5700
F: 305.446.1154
330 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
