FightSMA Chapter: Patrick’s Buddies

Patrick Higgins at the 2007 FightSMA Annual Conference

Patrick Higgins, April 2007

Maureen Higgins
P.O. Box 2995
Westfield, New Jersey 07090
Phone: (908) 789-9167
E-mail: Click here to email

Past Events:

Patrick with Eric LaGrande and Mohammed Sanufrom Rutgers Scarlet Knights

4th Annual FightSMA Rubber Duck Race

Sunday, May 23, 2010
Mindowaskin Park Pond
Westfield, New Jersey
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Thank you to everyone who came out for the 4th Annual FightSMA Rubber Duck Race at Mindowaskin Park. Even though the poor economy has reduced may people’s ability to give to charity, the crowds turned out and the race was awesome. Special thanks to the members of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team who showed their support for the fight against SMA.

Check out more pictures and video from the Duck Race on the Westerfield Patch’s website.

3rd Annual FightSMA Rubber Duck Race

Patrick’s Buddies’ 3rd Annual Rubber Duck Race was a tremendous success! Held Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield, NJ, the race is estimated to have raised between $13,000 and $14,000 for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) research. According to Maureen Higgins, head of the New Jersey chapter of FightSMA, the generosity shown by their supporters is extremely impressive given the charities in their area have been suffering during the economic downturn.

Recognition must be given to the employees of PTC Therapeutics for their tremendous support. Headquartered in South Plainfield, NJ, they had a “gaggleometer” in the office to tally their donations, which reached close to $1,000 from the individual employees! One of the PTC scientists who works on SMA, Amal Dakka, attended the event and helped Patrick give the signal to dump the ducks in the water at the start line. Maureen said, “I was very excited to have their support. It’s great that our supporters can see an actual scientists who benefits from this crazy duck race we throw every year!”

Patrick's Buddies 3rd Annual Rubber Duck Race

2nd Annual FightSMA Rubber Duck Race

Sunday, May 18, 2008
Mindowaskin Park, Westfield, NJ
Click here to check out pictures of the Duck Race festivities!
(The gallery is called “SMA Duck Race” and the password is: Patrick)

Fighter Mom Friday

	and
present

May 9, 2008
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
New York Palace Hotel
New York, New York

FightSMA and the Toy Industry Foundation are pleased to announce Fighter Mom™ Friday, May 9, 2008. The inaugural, day-long workshop will take place at the breathtaking New York Palace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

Fighter Mom™ Friday is a celebration for all mothers (and others), whose children face any kind of disease, challenge or disability. It will be a day that provides a special service to moms and other caregivers who need tools to become truly proactive for their children. To kick off Mother’s Day weekend, FightSMA and the Toy Industry Foundation are honored to provide these special women with a day of their very own – a day to honor the Fighter Mom™. This day will be celebrated year after year.

The workshop will be a fun, educational and productive day. FightSMA and the Toy Industry Foundation have collaborated to provide a dynamic agenda for the day, including presentations, a celebrity guest speaker, panelists and toy demonstrations.

Please check here for all the details of this exciting event!

FightSMA Rubber Duck Race

Sunday, May 6, 2007
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Mindowaskin Park, Westfield, NJ

Thanks to everyone who joined us in Mindowaskin Pond to watch the 3,000 rubber ducks in our Rubber Duck Race. It was a great success! (Photos by Ingrid McKinley of The Westfield Leader)