Torrance, CA (July 30, 2015) – Convaid Products, Inc., a Torrance-based manufacturer of custom-made, compact lightweight adaptive-assisted wheelchairs today announced that it has reunited with Cure SMA for a second time this summer in support of the organization’s Northern California Walk-n-Roll to Cure SMA event to be held Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
In June, Convaid was a Gold Sponsor of the 2015 Annual SMA Conference – the largest in the world – where every year since 1989, it has brought together the leading SMA researchers, clinicians, and families living with SMA, sharing latest advances in research and care.
In addition to financial support of the Northern California event, Convaid personnel will participate in the event and be on hand to cheer for participants, led by Convaid’s Northwestern Regional Business Development Representative, Donald Jones.
Convaid products are often prescribed for children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) as well as other children and youth with mild to moderate involvement concurrent to the following conditions: Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Bifida, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Cystic Fibrosis, Mitochondrial Disease, Metabolic Diseases, and Sensory Processing Disorders, among others.
The Convaid product most adept for juvenile patients with SMA is the Convaid Trekker.
Convaid Trekker Product highlights include:
– Separate base and seating module
– Reversible seating
– Variable positioning (up to 170 degrees of adjustable recline and tilt ranging from -5 to 45 degrees)
– Accepts aftermarket seating
– Comes with a wide range of curative and comfort options
– Lightweight
– Easy to fold for maximal portability
– Can be used from early intervention
– Can be used as an all-day chair
– Meets WC19 transport safety standards
“Convaid is dedicated in its support of Cure SMA whose work is indispensable in advancing a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the primary genetic cause of death for children under the age of two. As much as our products can help make these children more comfortable and provide them with an increased quality of life during their short span, there is much work to be done in finding a cure,” said Convaid CEO Chris Braun.
SMA is a disease that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. It is caused by a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1). In a healthy person, this gene produces a protein that is critical to the function of the nerves that control muscles. Without it, those nerve cells cannot properly function and eventually die, leading to debilitating and often fatal muscle weakness. The disease affects approximately 1 in 10,000 babies, and about 1 in every 50 Americans is a genetic carrier. SMA can affect any race or gender. Individuals with SMA have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, like breathing and swallowing. However, SMA does not affect a person’s ability to think, learn, and build relationships with others.
About Convaid
Convaid, the company that invented the adaptive assisted wheelchair, has helped special needs children and their families live fuller, more productive lives since 1976. Convaid produces high-performance, easy-to-use and attractive mobility products for all stages of a young person’s life, from infancy to young adulthood. Each product is custom-built to individual specifications to provide optimum comfort, safety and convenience.
About SMA
Cure SMA supports every type of SMA and every affected person, from newborns to adults to families who have lost a child. The organization works through its 31 volunteer-led chapters across the United States. The organization holds over 300 events throughout the country, as well as its annual conference. The organization also maintains a virtual community on Facebook and Twitter, keeping the community-at-large informed and involved in the latest SMA news and research.
