As a kickoff for Spring Fling Week at UPenn, a concert is being hosted downtown by one of the fraternities on campus. Many fraternities and sororities on campus hold events like this to raise money for various charities. Tonight, all of the concert proceeds are being donated to FOP research. FOP (short for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva), is a rare genetic disease in which bones start to form in muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the body (clearly places where they do not belong!) When these bone fragments start to develop and connect with each other, it not only restricts movement but also turns the organs in which they are growing into bones themselves and traps the body inside a second skeleton. Most affected individuals die before they reach age thirty. The condition is very rare yet devastating disease. Interestingly enough, the School of Medicine at UPenn is the only lab in the United States that dedicates to FOP research. Before buying my concert ticket I had no idea what FOP was or that it even existed. After researching online however, I realize how important it is to spread awareness about this disease. I was so surprised to find that UPenn was home to the only lab that dedicates research to this condition.
Below is a link to the official FOP website. Given Penn's student body, I am sure that at least a few thousand dollars will be raised in ticket sales tonight!
Cheers,
Bianca
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