As an individual affected by Congenital Heart Disease, I am writing to urge the provincial and federal agencies to support community efforts at raising awareness for CHD and to increase research funding for CHD. CHD affects 1 in 100 newborns and is the number one birth defect worldwide. Not only is CHD the leading cause of newborn deaths from a birth defect, CHD kills more children each year than all childhood cancers combined! Yet, we know very little about what causes these defects and how to prevent them. The burden of genetic and environmental risk factors for CHD is growing. With improving survival during childhood, there are more adults with CHD living in Canada today than ever before and they face significant medical and social challenges throughout their lifetime. We, the undersigned, as patients, families, friends and others affected by Congenital Heart Disease, are petitioning for strong investment at provincial and national levels for greater advocacy and increased research support for CHD. Investing in this effort is of vital importance in order for researchers to find better ways to treat patients and to reduce the healthcare burden of CHD. The Ontario patient community has already come together to donate samples for genomics research through a unique province-wide effort (www.heartcentrebiobank.ca). We need your support to follow through on the community efforts and the investment that families with CHD and researchers have already made so that we can make a difference in the lives of CHD survivors. Please sign the petition or write a letter expressing your experience/thoughts and why policy makers and funding agencies should increase research funding for CHD. This petition and your letters together will be brought to the attention of those with influence. Letters can be mailed to; Wyatt's Warriors - CHD Petition 5979 Baldwin Street P.O. Box #30039 Brooklin, ON L1M 0B5 or emailed to CHDpetition@wyattswarriors.ca

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