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NephCure Raises Over $600,000 at Countdown 

New York, NY – Countdown to a Cure, held Wednesday, November 10 at CitiField, over $600,000 towards NephCure’s fight against the kidney diseases FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. 

The event, which marked the start of NephCure’s 10th anniversary, raised a single-event, record-setting amount for NephCure.  The highlight of the evening came when Stephen Berni, grandfather to Nephrotic Syndrome patient Asher Berni, presented NephCure Co-founder and President Dr. Irv Smokler with a $100,000 check, one of the largest single cash donations in the Foundation’s history.

Check out the photo galleries from Countdown:

Photo Gallery 1   Photo Gallery 2

Emceed by Fox 5 New York sports anchor Duke Castiglione, the dinner ceremony featured auctions and honored the philanthropic work of Joseph and Daryl Boren (photo attached) with the 2010 NephCure Service Award, and Walter Beal and Gloria Klein with the Alvin Levine Award.

Special guests included Doug Ellin (photo attached), the creator of HBO’s hit series Entourage, and former New York Mets star pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden, whose father, Dan, died from complications stemming from dialysis due to kidney disease.

Ellin personally auctioned off a walk-on role and the opportunity to meet with cast members from his show. The winning bid went for $10,000.

Former Mets executive and current MLB.com baseball analyst Jim Duquette, a NephCure board member, was also in attendance. His eight-year-old daughter, Lindsey, suffers from the kidney disease FSGS.

“NephCure gives patients and families suffering from these diseases a critical support system and the opportunity to make a difference through raising money to fund critical research,” said Duquette.  “Tonight’s event is an example of how great things can be accomplished when people come together.”

Melville, New York resident and NephCure