“At my first LAMposium, I met incredible people,” Eden shared. “Patients, families, doctors, researchers, and board members were all coming together to help the community and work toward better treatments and eventually a cure.”

For Eden, the experience was powerful. She saw firsthand how deeply people cared about one another and how committed the LAM community was to progress. 

“The passion among this group felt unlike anything I’d experienced before,” she said. 

That passion inspired Eden to give back. 

Today, as both a patient and former board member, Eden continues to support The LAM Foundation because she believes every donation helps move research forward and gives patients hope for the future. 

“Best case scenario,” Eden said, “my contributions — along with many others — will put us out of business because we will find a cure for LAM!” 

She especially connects with the Foundation’s mission to speed up research while also supporting patient care and lifting the voices of women living with a rare disease. 

“Those are voices that need to be heard,” she explained. 

Eden also discovered a simple way to make her family’s support go even further: employer matching gifts. 

After hosting their first fundraiser, Eden’s husband mentioned that his employer would match up to $5,000 in donations. They immediately realized what a difference that could make. 

“If we didn’t take advantage of that, we’d be leaving ‘free’ money on the table,” Eden said. 

The process turned out to be quick and easy. The family contacted The LAM Foundation for paperwork confirming its nonprofit status, submitted it to the company, and the match was approved within days. 

“Easy!” Eden said. 

Her advice to other donors is simple: check to see if your employer offers a matching gift program. 

“A matched gift can sometimes double or even triple a donation,” Eden explained. “That means a significant increase in support for the LAM Foundation without adding fundraising costs.” 

For Eden, every dollar matters because every dollar brings the LAM community one step closer to better treatments, stronger support, and one day, a cure.