The Conemaugh School of Nursing’s Chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association received the 2009 Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) Community Health Project Award for assisting a local family struggling with a debilitating disease.
Jamie Eckenrod, a Conemaugh School of Nursing student and President of the Conemaugh Chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania, headed up the fundraising project after learning about 15-year-old Jessica Ambroe of Johnstown, who suffers from an extremely rare and fatal neurogenerative epilepsy called Lafora Disease. Jessica’s mother, Michele, is a 2005 graduate of Conemaugh SON.
Eckenrod and her classmates initiated community awareness efforts and raised $1,500 for the Ambroe family to go toward Lafora Disease research.
“We were all so touched by Jessica’s story that we wanted to support their amazing family,” Eckenrod said. “As a community service organization at Conemaugh SON, we wanted to create local awareness about Lafora Disease, so we decided to hold a bake sale at Richland Fire Hall during Thunder in the Valley, where we raised funds while also passing out informational flyers on Lafora Disease.”
“Out of several nurses’ associations across the state, we are so proud that Conemaugh’s student nurses have been recognized for their community outreach initiative,” says Mark Dellett, RN, BSN, Advisor, Conemaugh Student Nurses’ Association. “This was a cause that they truly believed in and gave it their all, so we’re delighted that they not only helped this local family, but were also commended by SNAP for a job well done.”
According to SNAP, the goal of the Community Health Project Award is to encourage the development and implementation of nursing-related community service projects.
CAPTION: (left to right) Mark Dellett, RN, BSN, SNAP Advisor, with senior SON students Amanda Ream, Jamie Eckenrod and Rebecca Dumm.
