HESA helps promote encephalitis research with funding pledge to AE Alliance

April 6, 2017

Two U.S. non-profits join forces to combat autoimmune encephalitis. “The AE Alliance is proud of the long-standing relationship with the Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy SREAT Alliance. We are grateful beyond words for HESA’s generosity. This collaboration allows both groups to look anew at imaginative ways to raise awareness on all autoimmune encephalitis fronts, fight this disease, and lessen the suffering of patients and their families,” said John Spencer, Executive Director of the AE Alliance.

The Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy SREAT Alliance (HESA) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, started in 2012 by co-founders, Nicola Nelson and Susan Foley. After both women were affected by the condition commonly known as Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, the women embarked on a mission to collect, archive, and share information on the condition, and offer emotional support to patients, families, and caregivers. This mission was furthered by the publication of the book published in 2013, “Understanding Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy: A Guide for Patients, Families, and Caregivers”, (available on Amazon.com).

 “HESA could not be more proud to contribute a portion of our donations and proceeds from both of our books to help further research into autoimmune encephalitis, and by proxy, Hashimoto’s encephalopathy, through AE Alliance,” said Executive Director, Susan Foley.
 The Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance improves the lives of patients with autoimmune encephalitis by promoting collaboration in clinical and basic research and by creating a community of patients, families, and caregivers so that no one faces autoimmune encephalitis alone. The AE Alliance strives to find a cure for autoimmune encephalitis through multi-disciplinary, collaborative research, and clinical care. The AE Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all services are free of charge. For more information visit www.aealliance.org.
 The Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy SREAT Alliance (HESA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2012. It is HESA’s mission to collect, archive, and share information regarding Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy (“HE”), also known as Steroid Responsive Encephalopathy Associated with Thyroiditis (“SREAT”) or simply Autoimmune Encephalopathy (“AE”) with the public and medical professionals. We share information relevant to HE/SREAT as well as updates on HESA’s activities and our publications.

Other names used to describe HE/SREAT are nonvasculitic autoimmune meningoencephalitis (“NAIM”), and encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (“EAATD”). HESA takes no position on the most appropriate name for the disease.The purposes of HESA are exclusively charitable, educational, and scientific. Our primary focus is to educate the public and physicians concerning Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and associated diseases and disorders. We aim to educate the public concerning the need for increased funding for the detection, treatment, and ultimate cure of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and associated diseases and disorders. We hope to one day assist in finding a cure of Hashimoto’s encephalopathy. HESA works to foster, promote, support, develop, encourage, solicit, maintain, receive and accept funds, and raise funds for and on behalf of such purposes. We fully appreciate your tax-deductible donations which enable us to continue to educate and raise crucial awareness of this poorly understood condition. Our website or book are not a substitute for independent professional medical advice.

by spencer