About Us

The Chicago Chapter is one of 21 local chapters raising money to support the mission of the Foundation. Cooking up a Cure is one of many events we hold each year to help us with this effort.

The Scleroderma Foundation supports a Three-Fold Mission of Support, Education, and Research.

• Support: To help patients and their families cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs, peer counseling, physician referrals, and educational information.
• Education: To promote public awareness and education through patient and health professional seminars, literature, and publicity campaigns.
• Research: To stimulate and support research to improve treatment and ultimately find the cause of and cure for scleroderma and related diseases.

While we budget over $1 million per year for new research into the cause and cure of scleroderma, we also consider the other two parts of our mission very important.

What the heck is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma (skleer-uh-DUR-muh) is an autoimmune disease, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, in which a person's body attacks its own tissue. Scleroderma, which means "hard skin," can cause thickening and tightening of the skin. It can also cause serious damage to the internal organs such as heart, lungs and kidneys. There are many types and severities.

How serious is scleroderma?

Any chronic disease can be serious. The symptoms vary greatly from person to person, and the effects of scleroderma can be life-threatening. The seriousness will depend on what parts of the body are affected and the extent to which they are affected. Scleroderma is not contagious, it is not infectious, it is not cancerous or malignant.

How is scleroderma diagnosed?

Unfortunately, many patients with scleroderma are initially misdiagnosed. We need to create awareness even amongst doctors!

Patients may require consultation with rheumatologists (arthritis specialists), and/or dermatologists (skin specialists).

What causes scleroderma?

The exact cause of scleroderma is still unknown, but scientists and medical investigators in a wide variety of fields are working hard to make those determinations. That's why we need research!

Is there a cure?

At the present time, there is no cure for scleroderma, but there are many treatments available. Another reason we need research!

What will the funds raised support?

All net proceeds from Cooking Up a Cure will be donated to the Scleroderma Foundation to support its three-fold mission of SUPPORT, EDUCATION and RESEARCH.

SCLERODERMA AFFECTS MORE THAN 300,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN AMERICA.