Family Events of the Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation Wisconsin von Willebrand Disease Bleeding Disorders

* You must register for these programs.
To register for programs or for more information, please call 414-257-0200 or 888-797-4543.

Caregivers and women with a bleeding disorder attended the Women’s Wellness and Pampering Day at the Milwaukee Sheraton Brookfield on May 19. After a wonderful lunch, the group learned about calorie counts and ideal body weight. There were also hands-on exercises and demonstrations.

Thank you to Baxter for sponsoring the lunch and speakers and the vendors for providing a “great day.”

Men from the bleeding disorders community came together on Saturday, March 24^th at the Charcoal Grill for lunch and discussion. The group networked and talked about various issues, including advocacy. Another Get Together is planned during the GLHF Fun and Education Weekend, Saturday June 23^rd, in Green Bay.

A family event was held at the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum on Saturday, February 17. Five families from the bleeding disorders community attended, eleven adults and twelve children. While the children explored the museum, the adults learned about how to be prepared for their next emergency room visit through a Baxter’s Facts First program. The children had a lot of fun exploring the museum – thanks to the volunteers who chaperoned the children. According to the evals filled out by the adults, they felt it was an informative day and learned new ways to be prepared for an emergency room visit.

GLHF in partnership with Baxter sponsored a Facts First program on November 4, 2006 at the Wisconsin Athletic Club. Twelve people from the bleeding disorders community in Wisconsin attended the program and listened to speakers on the topics of Joint Health, Nutrition and Exercise. They also had the opportunity to try out the exercise equipment with the guidance of a personal trainer from the club.

The Wisconsin Athletic Club is offering a one week free trail membership for GLHF families. Please call Eric Gresham, 414-443-5000, at the athletic club for more details and mention that you are a GLHF family. There are several programs available.

Fun, Education and Some Sun at the Zoo
Walk with the Animals - 2006
a Mission in Motion - NHF Prevention Grant Event

Over 100 people from the bleeding disorders community in Wisconsin, along with their families and friends, came to the zoo Saturday, September 23 for education, fun and food. For a while, it looked like the rain would hold off till later in the afternoon as the weatherman predicted, but people still had fun learning about bleeding disorders, talking with vendors and meeting new friends.

The morning started with carnival themed educational activities based on the NHF message, Do the 5!

(Click pictures to enlarge)

Table #1 – Penny Pitch
Families had to find the Do the 5! messages among the eight statements listed. They were given five pennies and had to “pitch” them on the squares with the Do the 5! messages. Everyone, age 12 and over, received a pedometer for their efforts.

Table #2 – Ring Toss
Each water bottle on the table was assigned a vaccination and families were asked to throw a ring over the two bottles with the vaccinations that are recommended by the Do the 5! messages. Each member of the family received a bottle of water.

Table #3 – Ice Cream Bucket Toss
At this table, families had to determine when a bleed should be treated. There were three ice cream buckets; each assigned a time limit – immediately, within a few hours and by the end of the day. Each family was given a poker chip and told to toss the chip in the bucket which held the correct time. Children in each family were given animal erasers for their efforts.

Table #4 – Ball Toss
Here families were asked if the following statement was true or false, Patients who receive care in HTCs have a lower hospitalization rate for bleeding complications than non-HTC users. Families were asked to toss a ball in one of two baskets, “true” or “false”. Children in each family were given an animal slide puzzle.

Table #5 – Tic Tac Toe
On the table were nine statements about nutrition and exercise. Families had to toss a beanbag on the true statements to form tic tac toe. Children in each family were given hamburger yoyos for their efforts.

Table #6 - There was also one more table for GLHF families to complete an evaluation. GLHF families who successfully completed all six activities were eligible for a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Grady Anderson was the lucky winner of this drawing.

Families also had the opportunity to meet with vendors during the morning. At each vendor table a family stopped at, they received a stamp on their “passport”. Families who visited all eight exhibit tables were also eligible for Wal-Mart gift cards. Neil Zellner and Dwight Morgan were the lucky winners of these drawings.

During the zoo walk, families not only looked at animals, but also tried to find two GLHF tables located somewhere on the zoo grounds. The first 25 people to find each table received a ticket good for a ride on the train, carousel, zoo mobile or seal show. These tables also served to educate the public about GLHF and bleeding disorders.

At lunch, families had the opportunity to meet and talk with Jackie Rebek, physical therapist at Children’s Hospital, about the importance of exercise and starting and keeping up an exercise routine.

Thank you to everyone who helped out at the event, GLHF staff, the zoo planning committee, Jackie Rebek,
the Forester’s Juneau Branch 1508 volunteers, and Wisconsin Lutheran College psych club volunteers.
Thank you also to sponsors Wal-Mart and Kinex.

(Click pictures to enlarge)