“My friend has a child with a rare disease. Six years ago, when she was diagnosed, it was so rare that the doctors just told the parents that there was nothing they could do but to make her comfortable and that their daughter probably wouldn’t live past seven to ten years of age. My friend is so awesome that she started investigating and researching and started a foundation that became global and now has a 501c3 designation,” Jacki Thornburg, Broker/Owner of EXIT Realty Heart Properties in Ocean Springs, MS, explains. “They have located a bunch of other kids who had this disease but didn’t know it. They also have a whole medical staff researching the cure and they believe they know how to cure this disease, but they just need to raise the funds to do so. The gene deficiency mimics a bunch of other, more common diseases, so the thought is, if we can cure Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency, then we can also cure other diseases with this cure.”
Jacki and her team of professionals not only hosted an event for the United MSD Foundation, but also participated in their annual run. MSD or Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency is a rare genetic condition that is similar to Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s but only affects children.
EXIT Realty Heart Properties held a VIP event for the United MSD Foundation’s 5th Annual Zebra Run. “Zebra” is a term for people with rare diseases. They sold tickets to the event, raffle tickets, food, drinks, and auction items as well as asking for monetary donations. The event planners were also able to meet with the owners of the Fly Llama Brewery and had a special “zebra” beer brewed for the event.
“The event hosted by EXIT Realty Heart Properties was a success and had an outpour of community support, producing many silent auction items and donations. Over 100 supporters were in attendance and we look forward to partnering with EXIT again for the 2023 Zebra Run,” said Amber Olsen, Executive Director of United MSD Foundation.
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund. Through the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program, EXIT offices and associates can raise money for local, approved, registered charities and apply to EXIT’s head office to have those funds matched from the company’s pool of funds. Jacki and her team hoped to raise $5,000 which EXIT’s head office was proud to match, but they outdid themselves and raised $5,193.39 for a total donation of $10,193.39 to United MSD Foundation.
