Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease CMT
Among the many charitable causes that Phyllis Sanders has been involved with over the years, none is more personal than her work with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA).
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) is a group of related diseases that damages the peripheral nerves (the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord). CMT affects both the motor nerves (the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the muscles) and the sensory nerves (the nerves that carry sensations from the rest of the body to the brain) in the arms, hands, feet, and legs.
There are several types of CMT, and all are progressive, meaning that symptoms get worse with age. Symptoms vary significantly from person to person but can include coordination and balance problems, abnormal sensations, nerve and muscle pain, numbness, curled toes and fingers, and muscular atrophy. Some people experience rare and severe symptoms such as vision and hearing problems, vocal cord paralysis, and breathing difficulties.
CMT is an inherited disease cause by genetic mutations that pass from one generation to the next, although it can also occur as a new mutation. More than 100 different genes that cause CMT have been identified. An estimated 3 million people worldwide suffer from CMT, making it one of the most common hereditary nerve diseases.
There is currently no drug treatment for CMT, but the CMTA is working hard to change that through its Strategy to Accelerate Research (STAR) initiative, which brings together researchers, drug companies, and patients to find CMT treatments. The largest charitable funder of CMT research in the world, the CMTA has invested millions to help bring CMT drugs and therapies to market. It has more than 50 active research projects that incorporate the latest genetic and neurological technologies.
Mrs. Sanders and members of her family have CMT, and she is dedicated to finding a cure for the disease. She serves on the CMTA Board of Directors and runs an annual CMTA fundraiser dinner in New York City. Even without an event in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mrs. Sanders maintained her fundraising efforts and in 2020 alone raised more than $71,000 for CMT research.
The Sanders Law Firm is proud to support the CMTA and its efforts to find a cure. Donations to the CMTA can be made here.