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Neurofibromatosis Network

Leading NF Advocacy
Building NF Community

SketchNF

A New Generation of NF Warriors Launch SketchNF

  

Shilp Shah                 Sahil Shah
shilp@sketchnf.org         sahil@sketchnf.org


OUR MISSION
One Sketch at a Time

SketchNF is dedicated to raising funds and creating a network for pediatric NF patients one sketch at a time.

Our mission is to EMPOWER children within the pediatric NF community by allowing them to share their voice and stories through art. By auctioning off these art pieces, each child will directly be contributing to the FUNDRAISING towards NF research and support groups. We hope that as each child shares their unique story, it will raise AWARENESS for what NF is and how it affects children and their families. As the number of children who participate grows, so will our COMMUNITY, and we hope to create an online platform from SketchNF that is aimed towards connecting children with the disorder so that no one will ever feel alone in this fight.

As each child’s unique story is shared through art, we hope that people can better understand the impact NF has on each of their precious lives.

So how will this work?

We will send out individual packages FREE OF COST that contain directions and a starter kit of supplies for each kid to create their artwork and talk about their story (they can use their own supplies as well!). Using the return envelope we provide, sketches will be sent back to us where we will frame them and auction them off during NF Awareness Month. At the end of the auction, the artwork will go to the highest bidder who will also be connected with the child who created it. Additionally, the creator of the drawing that raises the most money will be given a prize courtesy of NF Network!

OUR START

I was 14 when Sahil told me he had tumors in his neck. Diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 at the age of 1, he had been symptom-free until the age of 9. Over the next 7 years, I watched helplessly as he endured nights of splitting migraines, wracking neck pain, and even surgery to remove the tumors in his skull. I did my best to support him but I could never truly understand what he was going through; he needed people that could empathize with his situation. But as we looked online, it was difficult to find an accessible pediatric NF community, something that would make him feel not alone in this fight. I wanted to make a change for other kids like Sahil. This was the birth of SketchNF. 

MANY FACES OF NF

By: Rachel Mindrup
www.rmindrup.com

Rachel is partnering with SketchNF with her project "Many Faces of NF." Rachel will be uplodading progress pictures of her sketch fo Sahil playing tennis throughout the project. To visit and view her progress and see more of Many Faces of NF, please visit  https://www.facebook.com/ManyFacesNF

Portraits have always had a powerful grasp on my imagination. Studying the history of portraiture techniques has allowed me the ability to begin to integrate those concepts into relevant contemporary narratives.

My son Henry's diagnosis has been the motivation behind my series of portraits "Many Faces of Neurofibromatosis (NF)". Through this series of paintings, I am the conduit, transforming genetic complications into something secondary and portraying the individual personalities first. Using social media as a connection, I raise funds, educate, and hopefully will help find a cure for NF.

Thank you, Rachel, for all of your hard work! 

SUPPORTED BY

Currently Supported by Boston Children's Hospital, UCLA, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, and the University of Utah.