USA: THE YOUNGSTERS BORN WITH PROGERIA GATHER ONE A YEAR FOR A PICNINC IN PHILADELPHIA

Record ID: 647727

  • Title: USA: THE YOUNGSTERS BORN WITH PROGERIA GATHER ONE A YEAR FOR A PICNINC IN PHILADELPHIA
  • Date: 16th June 2001
  • Summary: PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA, (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV FAMILIES SITTING TOGETHER 0.02 2. SLV LITTLE GIRL WITH A CAMERA 0.10 3. SV PROGERIA CHILDREN 0.17 4. MCU 20 YEAR OLD MEXICAN GIRL WITH PROGERIA 0.21 5. MCU (English) MOTHER, ESMERALDA CONTRERAS OF CALIFORNIA SAYING: "These kids, all they want is what everybody wants, is acceptance. But you know if you talk to the other parents here you'll meet some of the strongest people, emotionally, religiously these people are just amazing". 0.41 6. SV 31 YEAR OLD PROGERIA IN A STROLLER, GREG MERCER 0.46 7. MCU (English) MOTHER, GERTRUDE MERCER SAYING: "He had a stroke when he was two he had another one four years later to the date, when he was six. Now he has mini strokes, the doctors says he could have as many as a hundred a day. They have no way of knowing how many he has." 1.03 8. SLV CHILD WALKING 1.09 9. MCU PROGERIA CHILD WHILE (English) REPORTER asking, "Why do you like these reunions?"/ (English) PROGERIA CHILD (UNIDENTIFIED) SAYING: "They are fun...my friends, they always take us places, the plane ride, the restaurants," 1.29 10. SV TWO BOTHERS HAVING LUNCH 1.39 11. MCU OF BROTHER 1.47 12. MCU THREE CHILDREN EATING AND LISTENING TO MUSIC 1.59 13. SV RAIN OUTSIDE 2.03 14. SV CHILD REACTING TO RAIN 2.08 15. SLV GREG MERCER ON BACK OF MOTORCYCLE 2.13 16. MCU MOTHERS PHOTOGRAPHING 2.19 17. SLV/SV MOTORCYCLE WITH CHILD MOVING (2 SHOTS) 2.24 18. SV/MCU (English) SUNSHINE FOUNDATION PRESIDENT BILL SAMPLE SAYING: ''Well they wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and they are all alone. So to be out here this week, they are with their peers, they can enjoy themselves, there is no language barrier, they just play and just enjoy one another. It opens them up and gives them self esteem. (2 SHOTS) 2.46 BETHESDA, MD, USA, (RECENT) (REUTERS, ACCESS ALL) 19. SV DR HUBERT WARNER WALKING ALONG CORRIDOR 2.55 20. MCU (English) DR. HUBER WARNER, OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING, BETHESDA, MARYLAND, USA. SAYING: "Progeria is a disease of children, a very rare, with the frequency being one in 10 million. It has been characterized as a premature aging syndrome we just don't know, what we do know is that these children tend to die in their teens heart attacks or stroke, which is do to premature aging of the vascular system." 3.22 VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (MUTE) 21. DNA 3.36 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA,(JUNE 16, 2001) (REUTERS, ACCESS ALL) 22. MCU/CU OF PROGERIA CHILD PAINTING (2 SHOTS) 3.52 23. SV/MCU CHILDREN PAINTING (2 SHOTS) 4.00 24. SV FATHER AND CHILD PLAYING 4.08 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st July 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, USA
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVACCZYM9A9AUZO0ICLDDZYX82YC
  • Story Text: They are the oldest children in the world. And yet
    most will die in their teens. They are the youngsters born
    with Progeria, a very rare terminal disease which causes them
    to age prematurely. Once a year they gather from all corners of the globe for a picnic in Philadelphia in the United States.



    The chances of being born with Progeria are ten million to
    one. These children are ageing at eight times the rate of a
    normal person. So a boy or girl aged nine already has the body
    of a pensioner.

    Their biological clocks are running out of control.

    But like any other youngster they need love. And they need
    to know they are not alone.

    Which is why once a year they are brought together to
    meet and talk and share experiences.

    Despite language difficulties they make friends very
    quickly.

    Poor weather this year unfortunately meant an outdoors
    picnic had to be abandoned.

    Nevertheless there was no denying the youngsters
    enthusiasm.

    Scientists are not sure why children are born with
    Progeria, but suggest it is a result of a biological clock
    that has already prematurely aged at birth.

    Each time a cell divides, segments at the end of
    chromosomes, called telomeres, get shorter, until the cell is
    no longer able to divide. The process, known as replicative
    senescence is one of the main causes of aging. Children born
    with Progeria have excessively shortened telomeres. There are
    no cures, or treatment for the disorder.

    The world's oldest Progeria sufferer has survived a series
    of strokes and paralysis. But on this special day 31 year old
    Greg Mercer was lifted onto the back of a Gulfstream
    motorcycle and taken for a ride; his 20 pound body frail but
    his spirits high.




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