Giving Tuesday is the time of year when people around the world support what matters most to them. That usually means giving donations to nonprofit organizations such as ours.
But, we are not asking for donations for us. Instead, we are asking for your help in supporting afib research—patient-initiated and patient-driven afib research. Let me explain that.
At the 2021 Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.® Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference, we introduced you to Prof. Bianca Brundel. She is a professor in the physiology department at the Amsterdam University Medical Center in The Netherlands. There, she leads translational research projects focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms and progression of afib. In addition, she is the founder of the nonprofit Atrial Fibrillation Innovation Platform, which promotes studies in collaboration with patients.
Thanks to her patient-driven research, we can learn practical ways to manage our afib. For example, she’s currently examining the role of supplements to help with afib and describing the underlying mechanisms that cause these supplements to work.
In her Practical Afib Research presentation on day 3 of the conference, Prof. Brundel provided us with up-to-date information about research that may directly benefit afib patients. She also included background on what’s been done and insights into what still needs to be done to help us find solutions.
Prof. Brundel is at the leading edge of practical basic science research for afib, so we were thrilled to hear from her. She shared how we, as patients, can be involved in research to help answer important questions. After Prof. Brundel’s presentation, I shared how patients can get involved in her research.
Thus, we are not seeking donations for us but instead for Prof. Brundel’s research that will benefit afib patients. All funds donated will support her research next year. We will not be keeping any of those funds—they will go directly to her research.
Will you help to support this vital patient-driven afib research through a tax-deductible (see below) charitable contribution? Donate here:
Donate to support Afib Research
Or, if you have questions to help you donate through your retirement fund, please let us know.
If you prefer to give through Facebook, see below.
Your contributions will make an impact. Thank you for your support of this vital patient-initiated research.
To your health,
Mellanie True Hills
Founder and CEO, StopAfib.org
PS. If you’d prefer to give through Facebook, please do so at precisely 8 am Eastern on Tuesday. They will match Giving Tuesday donations until funds run out (often in the first few seconds). However, once the matching funds are gone, we will still get 100% of your donation as no credit card fees are charged. Just click the Donate button on our StopAfib Facebook page.
PPS. In the US, you usually can’t deduct charitable contributions if you take a standard deduction. However, for 2021, you can deduct up to $300 per person ($600 per married couple filing jointly) in charitable contributions even if you take the standard deduction. If you do itemize, you can take up to 100% of your Adjusted Gross Income. (See IRS news story here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/expanded-tax-benefits-help-individuals-and-businesses-give-to-charity-in-2021)
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