FOD Family Support Group

To be an international support and networking resource for Families living with a Fatty Oxidation Disorder and for Professionals interested in FODs and those clinically treating our Families.

To provide practical and medical educational and research information (articles etc from our experts) to help Families learn about FODs and to assist them in the care of their own or child's disorder.

To offer the opportunity to attend our Metabolic Conference/ or Regional MeetUps every 2 years

To offer probono Grief Support services via face-to-face or by phone/zoom to FOD Families, as well as for the local community for any loss due to a death.

To provide an online Newsletter twice a year, as well as online forums via facebook and google groups, so our affected Families around the world can feel supported and empowered by others facing similar challenges.

To help raise funds for future FOD Research and for the clinical training of new metabolic professionals.

Because of costs, we do almost all of our networking and support Online - facebook, google groups, skype, zoom, Newsletter etc.
Families also try to get together on their own in their local areas.
The only time we are all together (@ 250 Families attend) with medical professionals is when we have our Conferences or MeetUps.

Despite being a small Group, we have been able to raise enough funds over the years via our FOD Awareness items and family/professional donations, that we have been able to put on a Conference every 2 years since 2000. Our funds also pay for our website maintenance and a local Grief Support office. We utilize @ 5 volunteers for the website, updating the Family networking listing, and for Conference planning. Deb is also trained a Grief Counselor and is able to offer free support services, but donations are accepted.

SInce 1991, we have grown from a Group of 10 Families in the US to over 5000 from all over the world.
Although we have made great strides in creating FOD awareness and offering support and networking, we are still striving to raise enough funds so we can offer grants to train new metabolic professionals in the US, and grants for future FOD research. It takes a very long time to raise at least $50,000 in each account before we can offer a grant.
We are gaining new Families and professionals at our Conferences, but it would be terrific if we could offer more Family scholarships to help with travel and hotel costs so more could attend from both the US and abroad.