Jeans for Genes
Encyclopedia
Jeans for Genes is a national appeal in the UK and Australia. Although both appeals raise money to help children with genetic disorders they are not the same appeal.
In Australia, Jeans for Genes is the major fundraiser for the Children's Medical Research Institute
, which studies congenital conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and birth defects. The scientists at the Children’s Medical Research Institute are working to try to prevent these diseases before they occur in children, or where that is not possible to develop better treatments. Jeans for Genes Day Australia is the first Friday in August. It’s a day where everyone can wear jeans and simply make a donation or buy a badge. Jeans for Genes volunteers are known as "Genies". Genies help out on Jeans for Genes Day in the workplace, factories, schools and out on the streets. They help to promote the event, collect donations and sell merchandise. In 2009 Jeans for Genes Day raised $3.8 million.
In the UK, Jeans for Genes is a national children’s charity which raises money for the care of children and families who are affected by genetic disorders. It also supports ground-breaking research into the causes and cures for these disorders. Since it became a national appeal in 1996, Jeans for Genes has raised more than £33million.
Genetic disorders affect 1 in 33 children born in the UK and include conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy. More than half of all childhood deaths in the UK are related to genetic conditions.
The charity’s main fundraising event is Jeans for Genes Day which takes place on the first Friday of October. Millions of people across the UK make a small donation to wear their jeans to work and to school. The Day raises around £3million each year. The money raised is distributed amongst Jeans for Genes’ benefiting charities for research projects, care services for children and information and support for families. Funding from the appeal was key in the development of gene therapy at the UCL
Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital
in London, which has since cured ten children of the life-threatening condition X-linked severe combined immune deficiency X-SCID
or ‘baby in the bubble’ syndrome.
The charity also aims to raise awareness and understanding of genetics
and what it means to live with a genetic disorder. It provides educational materials for schools and runs a speaker programme which offers free talks to schools taking part in the Day.
In Australia, Jeans for Genes is the major fundraiser for the Children's Medical Research Institute
Children's Medical Research Institute
The Children's Medical Research Institute is an Australian based independent scientific research organisation created in the 1950s by Paediatricians Sir Lorimer Dods and Dr. John Fulton to "perform scientific research with a commitment to better treat, and where possible, prevent childhood...
, which studies congenital conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and birth defects. The scientists at the Children’s Medical Research Institute are working to try to prevent these diseases before they occur in children, or where that is not possible to develop better treatments. Jeans for Genes Day Australia is the first Friday in August. It’s a day where everyone can wear jeans and simply make a donation or buy a badge. Jeans for Genes volunteers are known as "Genies". Genies help out on Jeans for Genes Day in the workplace, factories, schools and out on the streets. They help to promote the event, collect donations and sell merchandise. In 2009 Jeans for Genes Day raised $3.8 million.
In the UK, Jeans for Genes is a national children’s charity which raises money for the care of children and families who are affected by genetic disorders. It also supports ground-breaking research into the causes and cures for these disorders. Since it became a national appeal in 1996, Jeans for Genes has raised more than £33million.
Genetic disorders affect 1 in 33 children born in the UK and include conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia and muscular dystrophy. More than half of all childhood deaths in the UK are related to genetic conditions.
The charity’s main fundraising event is Jeans for Genes Day which takes place on the first Friday of October. Millions of people across the UK make a small donation to wear their jeans to work and to school. The Day raises around £3million each year. The money raised is distributed amongst Jeans for Genes’ benefiting charities for research projects, care services for children and information and support for families. Funding from the appeal was key in the development of gene therapy at the UCL
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
in London, which has since cured ten children of the life-threatening condition X-linked severe combined immune deficiency X-SCID
X-SCID
X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency is an immunodeficiency disorder that affects lymphocytes. It is a recessive trait stemming from a defective version of the gene responsible for the functionality of the Interleukin 2 receptor ....
or ‘baby in the bubble’ syndrome.
The charity also aims to raise awareness and understanding of genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
and what it means to live with a genetic disorder. It provides educational materials for schools and runs a speaker programme which offers free talks to schools taking part in the Day.