Fitness Equipment Donations 

Research shows that staying active for individuals with Pompe disease and other rare diseases has a monumental impact on muscle control, endurance, reduction in disease progression, and improved respitory function. https://www.rarediseaseadvisor.com/patient-columns/importance-staying-active-pompe-disease/

As a newly formed nonprofit, it is our intent at George’s Pompe Pals to provide at no cost adaptive youth exercise equipment to families with children that are affected by rare diseases. We know that it is not only the children with the rare disease that are affected by the disease but their siblings as well. It is our hope and mission to be able to provide specialty exercise equipment that allows the family to stay active and include everyone. For example, George’s Pompe Pals can provide adaptive swings, bicycles, sensory equipment, climbers and much more! 

Thanks to our generous donors and sponsors, we can provide this to the families of children with rare diseases at no cost to them.

Summer Camp Scholarships

Children and their families with rare diseases can often feel isolated, not understood and like they are not truly a part of their community. 

At George’s Pompe Pals, we aim to lessen that feeling of aloneness by providing summer camp scholarships that understand how to include children with rare disease to be included in activities with their peers. Independence is an important camp benefit. For example, an overnight mainstream camp can give special-needs kids the chance to be without parents, doctors, or physical therapists for a week. They'll do more things for themselves and learn how to ask friends to help, which can boost problem-solving and communication skills.

According to Children’s Minnesota, some of the benefits of camps are:

• increased confidence and independence

• activity and exercise

• the opportunity to interact with other kids, develop friendships, and build relationships

• positive role modeling by adults

• a chance for parents to have a much-needed break

Getaway Scholarships

Families that are affected by Pompe disease and other rare diseases spend most of their time in hospitals, receiving treatment, therapy, going to appointments, and because of illness. It is scary for many families that have children with rare diseases to think about traveling. They must think about what medical equipment to take, treatment plans if needed out of state, being away from doctors etc.… But according to many families with rare diseases, a getaway is exactly what they need to forget about the struggles of life and just simply enjoy the life they are living. 

As a newly formed nonprofit Georges Pompe Pals wants to help families take the needed trip away from the hospital. Rather it be a small getaway or a large family vacation. We want to provide partial or full scholarships to help fund travel, hotel, park passes, etc. to allow families to spend quality time together outside of their everyday life.