Viva Quito!

I've just spent 3 weeks in sunny Ecuador!

It was fantastic to attend the II Latin American OI Congress in Quito. There was so much to see and so many new friends to meet. Here I am with Justin and Hilda.

I was so very excited to meet the OI-team from Shriners Hospital Montreal and the famous Dr. Fassier! 

Dr Fassier and his colleague Dr. Pierre Duval invented the Fassier-Duval Telescopic Rod. This is a rod that is used to surgically straighten and strengthen the long bones of the legs and arms of children living with OI. The amazing thing about Dr Fassiers invention is the rod grows as a child grows which means less surgeries to replace the rod as kids grow up. The Fassier-Duval Rod is used in more than 45 countries worldwide! Thank you Dr Fassier for your amazing work! :-)

After the Congress it was time for some sight seeing.  I went to the Otavalo Indio Market and met these delightful little puppets.   

and then was treated to a ride with my new friends on a "Chiva" during the "Fiestas de Quito" - an open bus driving through Quito's old town - viva Quito!  

I've had such a great time and have learned so much.  I hope that my new friends here in Ecuador are as excited as I am for Wishbone Day 2012.  It's only 5 months to go!

Have you started planning your Wishbone Day celebration?  Click here to write me a note and let me know what you have planned.

I hope to see you soon!

Wishy

More than a bright yellow shirt

This time last year we announced our exciting new Rotary partnership.  This was a big step forward for Wishbone Day to maximise awareness and sustainable growth worldwide. 

One of the many benefits to our partnership with Rotary Club Dee Why Warringah was that it enabled Wishbone Day to include a small profit margin to awareness items purchased in our online Wishbone Day store.

We're delighted to share that through your purchases and the support of Rotary Dee Why Warringah the profits raised from the sale of awareness items from the Wishbone Day store during 2011 have been donated to CLAN to contribute to the launch and some ongoing support of the OI Club in Vietnam. 

For many families living with OI in resource-poor countries there is very little available in the way of access to effective medicine, treatment or support.

74 families gained direct benefit from the OI gathering in Hanoi in November and these families will celebrate their first Wishbone Day with us in 2012!  AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Wishbone Day is not a fundraising event and our primary focus remains with awareness raising; it is however exciting to know that through the generous support of the Rotary Club of Dee Why Warringah when you purchase a Wishbone Day shirt or other awareness item from our online store you will be benefiting OI communities and awareness worldwide.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Rotary Club of Dee Why Warringah for their ongoing generosity, support and enthusiasm to raise OI awareness and support for families around the world.

If you haven't yet purchased your Wishbone Day shirt for 2012 jump online and check out the many items available.