Geisinger, ADMI partner with Clyde Peeling's Reptiland for '22q at the Zoo'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ALLENWOOD, PA -- The Geisinger Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI) is partnering with Clyde Peeling's Reptiland (http://reptiland.com/) in Allenwood to raise awareness of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome -- a relatively common condition sometimes called DiGeorge or velocardiofacial syndrome -- through “22q at the Zoo” on Sunday, May 22.
22q at the Zoo is a worldwide event that gives families a chance to have a fun-filled day at the zoo, socialize with other 22q families, and help raise the public profile of this condition. Sponsored by the International 22q11.2 Foundation Inc., 22q at the Zoo Worldwide Awareness Day saw a record 115 cities around the globe participate in 2015.The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is caused by a missing section (microdeletion) of chromosome 22, which is present from the time a child is conceived. The deletion has the potential to affect almost every system in the body and can cause a wide range of health problems.
Though not always present, the key characteristics of this syndrome are:
- heart defects
- palate differences
- feeding and gastrointestinal difficulties
- immune system deficits
- growth delay
- kidney problems
- hearing loss
- low calcium and other endocrine issues
- cognitive, developmental and speech delays
- behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric differences (ADHD, autism, anxiety, etc.)
This event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and is open to the public. To purchase discounted event tickets, contact ADMI’s Megan Epler at 570-522-6281, or meepler@geisinger.edu by May 19. Tickets are $12 for ages 12 and older, $10 for ages 3 through 11, and free for ages 2 and under.
Regularly priced admission tickets can be purchased at Reptiland the day of the event.
Additional information on ADMI can be found at www.GeisingerADMI.org.