The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) has announced the appointment of Alan Breslow of Cherry Hill, NJ, to its Board of Trustees.
Breslow currently serves as the Chief Business Officer (CBO) for Global Furniture Group, USA. Alan and his wife, Sherri, have a 31-year-old son, Brandon, and a 29-year-old daughter Sydney, who is impacted by mitochondrial disease.
Sydney was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder at age eight. In 2018, Sydney received a diagnosis of Mitochondrial Enoyl CoA Reductase Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (MEPAN). MEPAN, which is caused by mutations in the MECR gene, is a rare movement disorder that also causes decreased vision and can lead to blindness in adulthood. There is no standard or proven treatment for MEPAN.
“The UMDF could not have found a better fit for our Board of Trustees as we work faster toward our vision of funding treatments and potential cures,” said John Kieffer, chairman of the UMDF Board of Trustees.
“As the parent of an affected daughter, Alan understands the unique needs of our patient families and how to help position the UMDF to take advantage of the many opportunities and innovations ahead of us in the field of mitochondrial medicine,” he added.
In an effort to fund research leading to potential treatments for their daughter, The Logan Sloane Aronson Research Fund was established after the tragic loss of Sherri and Alan’s nephew, Logan Aronson. Determined to turn this loss into something positive, Logan’s parents, Debra and Ron Aronson requested that this fund be created in memory of their precious son Logan and in honor of Sydney.
The Logan Sloane Aronson Foundation has hosted 3 “Cousins for A Cure” Galas to raise money to fund research, awareness and ultimately find cures for mitochondrial diseases.
The Breslows are members of the UMDF’s accelerators program and have been participating in the Delaware Valley Energy for Life Walkathons, raising money for UMDF since 2005.
In 2010, Sydney was honored to receive the UMDF Heartstrings Award. “We are very honored to have Alan join us as a volunteer leader,” said Brian Harman, President and CEO. “Alan’s expertise in marketing and his life experience with mitochondrial disease are tremendous assets for our organization as we go fast towards treatments and cures.”
For more information about the organization, visit umdf.org.
