Progeria Reunions

Find out how to sponsor a Progeria child.

**The sole purpose of Sunshine Foundation's Annual Progeria Reunion is to bring children, who have this rare aging disease, together for an enjoyable week with other children like themselves.

** Sunshine Foundation's Annual Progeria Reunion is a non-medical event for recreation only. This event is by invitation only, and closed to non-participating individuals and groups.

**Photos of Progeria Reunion are property of the Sunshine Foundation and may not be used by other parties.

Sunshine Foundation holds an annual Progeria Reunion for children 3 years of age or older afflicted with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS). The 26th Annual Progeria Reunion will take place on June 20 - 25, 2008. The invitation is extended to the (Progeria) child and one parent. In order for us to determine if an invitation may be extended, we would require the following information for a child who has not previously attended a Reunion:

** Please note: In order to receive an invitation to our 2008 Progeria Reunion,
we would require this information before January 1, 2008. **

- Copy of child's birth certificate
- Physician's certification letter confirming diagnosis of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS),
determined through the results of Lamin-A DNA Testing
- Current, clear photos of child
- Parents names, address, phone, email

History of Sunshine Foundation's Annual Progeria Reunions

In 1981, the Sunshine Foundation had been in existence for five years and had handled approximately 500 special dreams of seriously ill, chronically ill, and physically challenged children. It was brought to Sunshine's attention via a newspaper article that a young boy in South Africa, named Fransie, had a dream to visit Pinocchio. The inspiration for this dream came from this boy seeing himself in a mirror. Because of his wooden appearance, he felt in some way related to Pinocchio.

Having read the article, Sunshine embarked on making yet another dream come true, unaware that this particular endeavor would bring about the knowledge of a very rare illness to the world. Fransie had his dream come true in December 1981. The Sunshine Foundation flew Fransie and his family to Disneyland where he saw Pinocchio. During his visit to the United States, three other children, also suffering from Progeria, met with him.

Sunshine began receiving correspondence from other families whose children had similar characteristics. That following June, 1982, Sunshine sponsored the first gathering of all known children suffering from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria, a rare aging disease.

I call it a one-week utopia. They are the normal kids for this entire week.
-Courtneys mother, Sue

Fransie, 6 (middle) with
his mother father and brother

Be Sure To Check Out...
A TIME TO LIVE: LESSONS FROM A BOY GROWING OLD BEFORE HIS TIME
A wonderful article written about one of our Progeria children, Seth,
by Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter Carol Smith. Click Here to read the article!

Seth meeting his new friends, Cinderella, Princess Fiona and Shrek.

Since Sunshine Foundations 1st Annual Progeria Reunion at which eight Progeria children and their families gathered at Greenway Lodge in the Pocono Mountains of PA, 91 Progeria children have encountered the experience of visiting for a week with other children who look just like them.

Sunshine is proud to be sponsoring Sunshine Foundations 26th Annual Progeria Reunion only through the generosity of the many donors and all-volunteer chapters.