FACTS N' FACTORS
OCTOBER 2018
Unite for Bleeding Disorders - Join Us on Sunday October 28th!
We are less than one month away from the inaugural Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk at Robious Landing Park in Midlothian, VA! On Sunday, October 28th dozens of families plus friends and supporters from all over the state will gather in unity to celebrate the bleeding disorders community—and it’s not too late to join the fun! The festivities will begin at at 9:00am that day, and will include:

  • A fun fall “festival” with face painting, balloon artist, and Jonathan the Juggler

  • Walk warm-up with Nutzy from the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the VCU Cheerleaders

  • Sweet treats from Krecek Kakes

  • A powerful “Pinwheel ceremony,” led by long-time volunteer Kevin O’Connor

  • 1-mile walk, accessible for all fitness levels!

All funds raised will stay right here with VHF to help send children to Camp Youngblood, create a pool of emergency patient assistance funds, offer guidance and support for newly diagnosed families, and empower us to advocate for health care for families living with a bleeding disorder.

This event is free and open to everyone both inside and outside the bleeding disorders community. Walk t-shirts will only be available to those individuals who are registered and have raised a minimum of $25 by Thursday, October 11th. 
We Need You!
Are you looking to give back to the VHF community as an event volunteer? Are you part of a club or social organization that likes to give back? We are looking for some amazing event-day volunteers! You can be a fundraising participant for the walk, but it is not required. 
Volunteer and Donor of the Month: Dorothy O’Connor

VHF is so grateful to our long-time donor and volunteer, Dorothy O’Connor! Dorothy has given back with her time and donations to VHF for nearly two decades—at different times serving on our Board of Directors and as a founding member of our spring fundraiser committee. She attributes her long-time service to a quote from Helen Keller that hangs in the VHF office: “Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much." Dorothy says, "that is the reason I have been a part of this organization for almost 20 years: knowing that our future depends on us all working together and supporting the programs, events and fundraisers." Thank you for your support Dorothy, we are honored! Go here for more information on how you can give back to VHF.
Upcoming Events
October
Camp Holiday Trails in Charlottesville

The Grey Goose in Hampton

Robious Landing Park in Midlothian

November
*NOTE THE NEW DATE AND NEW LOCATION*
Maggiano's Italian Restaurant and Build-a-Bear in Richmond

The Boathouse Restaurant at Sunday Park in Richmond

December
December 8 - VHF/HTC Winter Gatherings
RSVP's Coming Soon

December 13 - Educational Dinner
Richmond | RSVP Coming Soon

VHF September Events Wrap-up
September 8th | Back to School Picnic and Pep Rally for Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk
An enthusiastic group of families joined VHF at the Science Museum of Virginia for an afternoon of fun, learning and exploration on September 8th. Attendees enjoyed lunch while getting tips on fundraising and the new Unite Walk on October 28th, then had the rest of the afternoon to enjoy the Science Museum’s many exhibits! Thanks to our generous sponsors NovoNordisk and Shire.  Go here to see event photos.
September 20th | Women's Night Out - Richmond
Affected women, caregivers and family members had a great night of connecting with new and old friends while focusing on self-care at the Hilton Hotel and Spa in Short Pump. The night started off with a mini-spa treatment and was topped off with a delicious dinner and an empowering presentation on meditation by Diane Dimon, Dr. RS. Save the date for our new women’s retreat weekend scheduled for February 9-10, 2019! Thank you to our program sponsor CSL Behring. Go here to see event photos.
Next Steps for Medicaid Expansion in Virginia

Thanks to all of you who advocated for expansion for the past five years, on January 1, 2019, approximately 400,000 uninsured Virginians will become eligible to enroll in Medicaid. VHF is a member of the Healthcare for All Virginians (HAV) Coalition , and we were one of over 100 organizations that worked on this expansion. 

In addition to this expansion, the state also proposed a 1115 Medicaid waiver or “work requirement”, called Virginia COMPASS . This waiver could possibly reduce coverage for thousands of Virginians if approved. Next step in the advocacy process will be for us to express concerns to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about this proposed waiver. 

Thanks to our colleagues at The Commonwealth Institute for drafting an auto-fill email to help with this process. All you need to do is go HERE and follow the easy steps to submit your individual comments by October 20th. Spoiler alert: this will be easy and like writing an email that is pre-filled for you and clicking on a button and the whole process will take no more than five minutes!
Hemophilia Federation of America
Dear Addy Corner: Voter Information

Hemophilia Federation of America (HFA) developed "Dear Addy" to answer questions from the bleeding disorders community related to advocacy issues. Go here to learn more.

Dear Addy: With the midterm election fast approaching, does HFA have any tools to assist voters? I’d like to see who the candidates are in my district and state and where they stand on access to healthcare for the bleeding disorders community.

Dear Voter: This is a great and timely question with the midterm election less than two months away! Voting is an important way to make your voice heard and advocate for the bleeding disorders community.

HFA’s newly updated Take Action Center has a great tool to help you register to vote or verify your registration status, find polling locations, and request an absentee ballot . If you aren’t registered to vote, make sure to do so as soon as possible as some states require that you register by a certain date before the election.

There are many options to research candidates. Ballotpedia is a helpful resource for finding candidates and ballot measures nationwide. Most states mail voters an election guide and/or have information available on their board of elections website. You can also typically find information in your local newspaper, including forums where you can interact with candidates in-person.

After you’ve determined the candidates running in your area, look at their election website to see where they stand on health care issues. Use HFA’s What We Need in Health Care Coverage guide for a list of what’s important for people with bleeding disorders. Compare this list with the candidate’s position; if you don’t see the answer you’re looking for, reach out! Send the candidate an email, share your story, and ask how they will ensure access to meaningful health care coverage.
National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI) Apllications are Now Available

NYLI offers young adults ages 18-22 in the bleeding disorders community the opportunity to learn valuable skills while giving back. Apply today! 

NYLI Eligibility Requirements:
  • High school graduate before December 31, 2018 AND be between the ages of 18-22
  • Have a bleeding disorder, or have a sibling with a bleeding disorder
  • Willing and able to travel to each of the trainings and program destinations
  • Available for regular communication via email, phone, and/or webinar
  • A U.S. resident
  • Available for the 1st-Year Leadership Training in New York City on January 6-9, 2019