ReEmployAbility is proud to be in collaboration with Angels for Change, a volunteer run organization whose objective is to end drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and a resilient supply chain. The organizations mission is to advocate on behalf of any patient affected by the shortage of a life-saving drug, while building relationships with patients and members of the pharmaceutical supply chain to end all healthcare crises created by the scarcity of pharmaceutical drugs.
In 2018, Abby Bray, at the young age of 9, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. When in treatment for her disease, Abby was unfortunately treated with a drug that resulted in her having a severe allergic reaction. In drastic need of an alternative medical solution, it was discovered that Abby’s life-saving drug was part of a prolonged global shortage. As her mother, Laura Bray would stop at nothing to give her child another fighting chance at survival, so she made it her duty to obtain the drug Abby needed, and was fortunately successful in securing it for her daughter. Laura found it unacceptable that any family or patient, in a fight for survival, should be told that they aren’t able to have access to the life-saving drugs needed to fight their disease.
We interviewed Laura to learn more about their organization and important news:
Briefly describe a recent accomplishment your organization has achieved.
The Angels for Change founder, Laura Bray, recently spoke in Washington D.C. on the drug shortage crisis and the fact that pediatric patients are more vulnerable to shortages. In addition, the organization has collaborated with the U.S. Pharmacopeia and Vizient to create a Medical Supply Map, which analyzes data to help prevent drug shortages before they happen. Together, they published a white paper entitled Quantifying Drivers of Supply Chain Resilience in Pediatric Oncology Medications which reveals that Pediatric oncology medications are 90% more likely to have a shortage event, and those events take 33% longer to resolve than an average generic drug.
In the past year, Angels for Change have helped over 50 families of pediatric cancer patients, nationally and internationally, get the medications they needed to fight cancer. The organization has also helped families with children who had other illnesses and were having difficulty gaining access to life-saving medications. The stories of some of these families can be found on the Angels for Change website at www.angelsforchange.org in the News and Updates section.
What are some other ways donors can contribute beside monetary donations?
Angels for Change is an entirely volunteer-run non-profit, and would be thrilled to accept in-kind donations for anything from: office supplies, to business services, to office space. We are always in need of legal, writing, graphic design, mailing, web and print services. The organization is also gratefully accepting donations of products and services which can be auctioned off at their Champions for Change Inaugural Gala on Friday, November 19th, 2021.
What is the most important message that you would like to relay to the readers about your organization?
After Laura resolved her daughter’s first drug shortage, there were two more shortages that shortly followed. Haunted by the knowledge that others throughout the nation were facing life-saving shortages as well, Laura, and many of her friends, committed to being a resource for anyone facing life-saving drug shortages.
Angels for Change believes no patient should ever have to hear, and no doctor should ever have to say, “We don’t have access to the medications we need to save your life”—no matter the patient’s age, illness, or treatment plan. Those who have sought Angels for Change thus far are mostly in the pediatric cancer world, but the organization is ready to scale up and help anyone, any time, suffering from any drug shortage.
Angels for Change works tirelessly with patients, families, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain to make sure that the patient is at the center of every conversation about treatment access. Business decisions should not dictate health care treatment; physicians must have access to treatments for patients at the right place and the right time.
What is the best way readers can sign up to volunteer?
Go to www.angelsforchange.org and click “contact us” to let us know how you would like to help.
What would you like the public to know about your upcoming Gala?
Angels for Change will celebrate the two-year anniversary of its founding with their Inaugural Champions for Change Gala on Friday, November 19th, from 6:00pm – 11:00 pm, located at Tabella’s at Delaney Creek. This celebration will bring together friends throughout the country to learn about, discuss, and recognize the progress Angels for Change and its champions have already achieved in ending life-saving drug shortages and raise funds for future programs. The Gala will feature an auction of eight live items including a Celebrity Cruise to Alaska, a Celebrity Cruise to the Caribbean, and a Georgia Blue Ridge Mountain Getaway. It will also have a silent auction for over twenty items including a Tiki Cruise, a Kate Spade Tote Bag and Wristlet, and a Grill Master Pellet Grill. In addition, there will also be three chance drawings: Bubbles and Bling in which entrants can win a diamond tennis bracelet; Bourbon and a Box in which entrants can win a beautiful humidor; and a variety of gift baskets from businesses throughout the Brandon/Valrico/Lithia and Tampa Bay area. With a sit-down dinner, a live DJ, and fabulous outdoor gathering space, it is sure to be a night to remember.
To purchase tickets for this years Angels for Change Inaugural Champions for Change Gala,
