Students From Iona Prep In New Rochelle Launch Fundraiser

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The Cure JM Fundraiser has launched a year-long tesxt-to-donate program titled "Stand By Me," to cure Dermatomayositis JDM.

Russell Taormina, a 17-year-old Iona Preperatory School student, is spearheading the fundraising campaign.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Sandra Diamond Fox

09/29/2015 1:30 p.m.

Dermatomayositis JDM is an incurable, life-threatening disease that causes muscle pain, weakness, fatigue and can attack nearly all systems of the body.

Each year, about 1,000 children are diagnosed with it, according to a press release.

In July 2013, Russell Taormina, Iona Preperatory School's class of 2016, was among them. Russell is a 17-year-old patient spearheading the campaign with support of the student body at Iona Prep, as well as the student body at The Ursuline School.

Russell kicked off the year-long drive with the first text.

The money raised will go toward research for a cure.

Join Russell and text: Cure JM to 41444 and "Stand By Me!"

For more information on Dermatomayositis JDM, visit www.curejm.org/#meganav.

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