Kiara Jam

On June 11, 2008 Kiara Tyler died due to a rare blood disorder called Fanconi Anemia. Kiara “Lil’ Momma” Tyler, was diagnosed at age 4 with FA, a disease about which we knew nothing. We soon learned that FA is a cruel and fatal genetic disorder which leads to bone marrow failure, leukemia, and certain kinds of cancer. Youngsters with Fanconi anemia usually do not live to adulthood. Since Kiara's diagnosis, we realized that we couldn’t passively accept this fate, but have done all we could to beat this disease. Though she is gone her sprirt lives on in all the people whose lives she's touched and everyone that hears her story. In memory of life and to bring awareness to this disease we have organized Concert Fundraiser. Visit Kiara at www.caring4Kiara.com.

The Kiara Jam Benefit Concert will be one of the years most memorable music events. Artists have come together to "Play for a Cure". We have teamed up with several businesses and artists to celebrate the life of Kiara "Lil Momma" Tyler and to help fund the research for a cure for Fanconi Anemia(FA).

We are working hard to raise funds for the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, which was founded in 1989 for the sole purpose of funding research to find a cure for FA.

Because of the generosity of countless donors around the world who have heard of this disease from FA families, the progress that has been made since the Research Fund began has been remarkable. For example:

 When the FA Research Fund was founded in 1989, no FA gene had been found. It’s impossible to understand a genetic disorder without first understanding the function of the gene or genes which cause the disease. With grants from the Research Fund, researchers have discovered 13 FA genes.

 In 2002, scientists announced that an FA gene, FANCD1, is also the breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2. The recent discoveries of other FA genes, including FANCJ and FANCM, have expanded the key role of FA genes in genomic stability and their significance to the development of cancer in the general population. Research into our orphan disease is now potentially beneficial to all.

Though Kiara is no longer with us, our race against the clock to help other youngsters never felt more urgent. We desperately need to find a cure for all children with FA.

“The Fanconi Anemia Research Fund is the single best orphan disease research support group in the world. It is a model for demonstrating how a small group of dedicated families can speed the pace of scientific progress and bring realistic hope to patients with an otherwise fatal disorder.”

David Nathan, MD, Distinguished Professor, Harvard Medical School; former Director, Dana Farber Cancer Institute; Winner, National Medal of Science, 1990.

“The tireless efforts of the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund have demonstrated that a rare genetic disorder can provide a vital key to understanding the basic biological process of cancer itself. The importance of these efforts to the advancement of medical science cannot be overstated.”

Lee Hartwell, PhD, President and Director, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Winner, Nobel Prize, 2001.

Members:

This night will prove that we as community can come together for a good cause. Performers and sponsors will include:

Global Drumbeats DJ’s

Kelly Love Jones

Ken J

Dain Harris

Leaf

Abyss

Water Seed

Salakida

Stacy Epps

Everett James and many more

Sponsors:

SkyCounsel