By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-988968.mp3
Plattsburgh, NY – Students majoring in public relations and members of cardinal PR, the student public relations firm, met this morning the founder of Hannah's Hope, a not-for-profit based near Clifton Park that is seeking a cure for a rare neurological disorder. Senior and President of Cardinal P.R. Kyle Kreig says their campus advisor knows Hannah's mother.
The students were so successful with their efforts to raise awareness and funds for Hannah's Hope that last year that it won two Pepsi refresh grants totaling a half million dollars. Hannah's mother, and co-founder of Hannah's Hope, Lori Sames says those monies have helped fund the gene therapy center at Chapel Hill.
Seven Year old Hannah Sames, meanwhile, was the center of attention throughout the event. Hannah says she has to take medicine, but not THE one that will work yet.
This year the students are working to find patients with Giant Axonal Neuropathy globally to let them know clinical trials are near. The students met with Lori Sames today to report their findings. SUNY Plattsburgh officials announced during the event that the public relations program, which had been a concentration in the communications major, will become a stand-alone major. Communications Studies Chair Peter Ensel.
Cardinal P.R., the student public relations group, is a finalist in the Public Relations Society of America's Capital Region Empire Awards for their work with Hannah's Hope.