About the Cause: 

Ski4E is a Buffalo based charity that strives to assist children suffering from various forms of liver disease. The foundation provides pediatric advocacy for insurance rights and supports scientific research directed toward improving the lives of children whom have been affected. Most importantly Ski4E raises funds to provide monetary assistance to children undergoing liver transplants. The financial burden of a transplant can be eased with insurance coverage for medical costs, but non-medical costs such as transportation, out of state lodging, and lost wages for parents can add up to become devastating. Ski4E offers support for children, parents, and families whose lives have been disrupted due to the unfortunate development of illness.  
 

Getting Involved:

"My grandson, Ethan, was born with a rare liver disease known as Billiary Atrisia.  At the age of two months, and just 2 days before the tragedy of 9/11, he had a major operation called a kasai, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.  If successful the operation offers a temporary, short term "fix" to his condition.  Ethan's kasai lasted 2 years, much of the time spent in the hospital having tests, biopsies, or tying off internal bleeds in his stomach.  At the age of 2, his condition deteriorated to a point where he needed a liver transplant.  Because the liver is the only organ in the body that regenerates, an organ can be supplied via a live donor.  My son, Chad, became that donor and on 6/6/02 Ethan received his "gift of life" from his father.

Ethan is now going on 14 and graduates from middle school in June.  He's an honor roll student, a black belt in karate, a "mean" skier, and has taken up lacrosse.  His life now, not without some hiccups, is rich and full.

Because organ donation became so important to our family, my son started a charitable organization, "Ski-4-E", named in honor of Ethan.  Through the years we have had fundraising events helping to finance pediatric liver  transplants in the Western New York area while also raising thousands of dollars for research.  Parents can use the funds to help pay medical bills, additional income if one or both parents have to take a leave of absence from their job, or for hotel and airfare accommodations because the child will certainly have their operation at an out of town hospital.  Hopefully Ski-4-E will in some small way help to get these families through the initial hospital period.  My son, Chad, has also become an advocate to hundreds of families throughout the country who need advice, guidance, and navigation during this difficult period.

It takes a life crisis like the one my family and I went through to realize what's really important. That's obviously why "Ski-4-E" is so important to me."