Page 15 - HFA Dateline 2022 Q1 Spring
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to market. The safety of the nation’s   How can I impress upon the bleeding disorders
        blood supply became a priority,      community the passion and compassion Val had
        especially through blood/plasma
        collection processes. Government     for his community and the awesome change he
        agencies and cabinet-level           facilitated coming out of NHF’s challenges with
        committees accepted hemophilia       the HIV pandemic?
        consumer members to these
        positions, turning a listening ear to
        their concerns and perspectives.
                                             he facilitated coming out of NHF’s    experiences, we were drawn to
        NHF created initiatives under Val    challenges with the HIV pandemic?     friendship. No matter the different
        and Donald Colburn that challenged                                         paths our lives led us, we never
        the raising of funds for research in   We need to honor this leader and    lost our friendship and always found
        gene therapy for a cure. Under Val’s   the work he accomplished to help    the time to talk about our goals
        leadership “chapter development”     make this community better. The       and passions for the bleeding
        was made a priority, and programs    NHF board and leadership, chapters,   disorders community.
        were implemented. Chapters became    youth leadership programs, cure for
        stronger and more universally        the disease programs, educational     I encourage you to express your
        developed. I could go on with        programs, and relationships with      appreciation for his leadership, which
        much more.                           donors would not be where they are    created positive change for you and
                                             today without his leadership.         your family. As I look at this photo
        How can I impress upon the bleeding                                        below of five men, I am the only one
        disorders community the passion      Lastly, the photo below on the        living. These other leaders and heroes
        and compassion Val had for his       right  depicts our friendship over    of the bleeding disorders community
        community and the awesome change     30 years. Through similar tragic      lived their lives and gave their lives
                                                                                   for the changes and benefits we
                                                                                   experience in our everyday lives.
                                                                                   I will be forever grateful.







































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