The Southeastern Conference has once again generously donated an autographed football to Avery’s Hope Fund for Glycogen Storage Disease Research ( AverysHope.org).
Last year, approximately $5,200 was raised for research through the autographed football raffle fundraiser and the hope is to double that amount this year.

Avery Robinson is a 5 year old little girl from Mississippi that was diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ia when she was about 9 months old. Today, she is doing great thanks to the research that is being done by her doctor and others at the University of Florida.

There was only one ball that was signed by all of the coaches and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive during 2012 SEC Media Days. This is also the first year of the expansion that welcomes University of Missouri Tigers and Texas A&M University Aggies. Commissioner Slive signed and dated this ball "2012" to commemorate this expansion year.

Avery’s Hope will be selling tickets over the next few months and a winner will be chosen on December 1, 2012, during the SEC Championship game. The football will be presented in a very nice wooden based crystal styrene display case that has a UV coating to protect the signatures.

For a donation of $5.00, you will receive 1 ticket, and for an even better deal, you can get 5 tickets for a donation of $20.00. All proceeds will go to benefit Glycogen Storage Disease research.

This year, tickets can be purchased online at AverysHope.org by selecting the desired quantity in the drop down list box at the top of the donate page. If you would rather make a larger, tax-deductible donation, instructions can be found lower on the donate page. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask on Facebook, or by email.

Signatures Included:
Mike Slive - Southeastern Conference
Nick Saban - University of Alabama
John L. Smith - University of Arkansas
Gene Chizik - Auburn University
Will Muschamp - University of Florida
Mark Richt - University of Georgia
Joker Phillips - University of Kentucky
Les Miles - Louisiana State University
Hugh Freeze - University of Mississippi
Dan Mullen - Mississippi State University
Gary Pinkel - University of Missouri
Steve Spurrier - University of South Carolina
Derek Dooley - University of Tennessee
Kevin Sumlin - Texas A&M University
James Franklin - Vanderbilt University

Glycogen Storage Disease is a rare genetic disorder centered in the liver and because of a missing enzyme the body cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels without constant feedings. Dangerous by-products such as lactate, uric acids, and triglycerides in combination with low blood sugars lead to numerous complications including impaired breathing, seizures, coma and death if a very strict dietary regimen is not followed. The management of GSD is lifelong, and not only affects the child, but also affects the parents and family of the child born with this disease. These children must be fed every one to four hours to maintain appropriate blood glucose levels. Because this regimen of constantly feeding day and night and because missing a meal or feeding can have catastrophic effects, most children have gastric tubes placed and some have issues ingesting by mouth. Our hope is that a cure is found and these children can live their lives not restricted by this disease.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will go to Dr. David Weinstein's research efforts at the University of Florida . Dr. Weinstein has worked to dramatically improve the lives of children with GSD. He has given these children the chance to not only survive, but to thrive under his care. His research is curing dogs bred with this disease, so we are not just 'hoping' for a cure anymore, we are actually raising funds for the final steps of research to proceed to FDA approval for human testing. With the combination of advances in gene therapy, more public awareness, and financial support, the cure is just around the corner. This research can only continue and progress with help from people like you.