Hannah’s Hope Fund leading for Pepsi Refresh Project

(from left) UAlbany President George Philip, Lori Sames, Vice President for Student Success Christine Bouchard, Matt Sames, and Student Association President Justin Wax Jacobs.

Hannah has more than hope – she now has the support of it’s 18,000 students at the University at Albany.

Late last week, the University at Albany Student Association took the charge of supporting “Hannah’s Hope Fund,” established in support of a six year old girl named Hannah Sames who was diagnosed with Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), a disease in which the ability to speak, swallow, and walk are decimated – tragically leading to a state of quadriplegia. Of those diagnosed, most die in their 20s.

This past Sunday at the Student Association’s block party on UAlbany’s uptown campus, Hannah’s mother, Lori Sames, spoke to students, urging them to vote for the Hannah Hope Fund by texting 101885 to 73774 (PEPSI) or voting online at www.refresheverything.com/hannahshopefund. University President George Philip and Student Association President Justin Wax Jacobs both urged students and staff to spread the word.

As of 10:00pm tonight, the Hannah Hope Fund is #3 for being selected for Pepsi’s Refresh Challenge to receive $250,000 to go toward GAN research. To supplement research for GAN, UAlbany’s DNA and RNA scientists have applied for federal funding to continue research at UAlbany to find a cure.

The top two in voting receive the $250,000 in funding – part of Pepsi’s $20 million philanthropic campaign for the year. A number of Capital Region causes have been part of internet-driven voting campaigns – most notably Charlie Muller’s drive to support the Boys and Girls Club in Downtown Albany earlier in the summer.

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