Tennis Legend Mats Wilander and debra of America Hold Tennis Pro-Am in New York City To Benefit Children with Rare Genetic Disorder

BE PART OF THE CURE FOR THE WORST DISEASE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF^™ 

New York, NY (August 1, 2013) — The Inaugural MW Foundation Tennis Pro-Am will be held Wednesday, August 28 from 8:30AM to 2PM at the legendary 100-year-old West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. West Side Tennis Club was home to the US Open Tennis Championships for over six decades. Tickets benefit debra of America, the only national nonprofit dedicated to funding research for treatments and a cure, while providing supportive services and programs for those who suffer from the rare and painful genetic disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – The Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of.™ Registration and sponsorship at debra.org/benefits.

The Inaugural MW Foundation Tennis Pro-Am benefiting debra of America includes:

• Play with Mats Wilander, Former #1 Tennis Player in the World & International Tennis Hall of Fame Member Hit with Former & Current Tennis Pros on 3 Court Surfaces
• Instructional Clinics, Competition Drills & Round-Robins A Professional Exhibition Match Continental Breakfast and Barbecue Lunch with Beer, Wine & Cocktails Notable past supporting celebrity and professional players include: Leslie Allen, James Blake, Thomas Blake, Jim Courier, Honorable David Dinkins, Will Ferrell, David Graham, Cameron Lickle, John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Yannick Noah, Karel Novácek, Jared Palmer, Mikael Pernfors and Christy Turlington.

ABOUT EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA (EB)

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. There are many genetic and symptomatic variations of EB, but all share the prominent symptom of extremely fragile skin that blisters and tears from minor friction or trauma. Internal organs and bodily systems can also be seriously affected by the disease. EB is always painful, is often pervasive and debilitating, and is in some cases lethal before the age of 30. EB affects 1 out of every 20,000 live births and those born with it are often called ‘Butterfly Children’ because as the analogy goes, their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly. There is no treatment or cure. Daily wound care, pain management and protective bandaging are the only options available. Learn more at debra.org.

ABOUT THE MW FOUNDATION
SAVE IT. SEND IT. SHARE IT. are the ideals that the MW Foundation stands for, not only while on a tennis court but for everyday life. Mats Wilander started the Foundation in association with Wilander on Wheels, when his 15 year old son, Erik, was born with a mild form of Epidermolysis Bullosa. Mats has been instrumental in helping debra of America raise awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa and funds for research and the supportive services and programs.

ABOUT DEBRA OF AMERICA
The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America was founded in 1980 and is the only national nonprofit dedicated to funding research for treatments and a cure, while providing supportive services and programs for those who suffer from the rare and painful genetic disorder, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – The Worst Disease You’ve Never Heard Of.™

The 15th Annual debra of America Benefit is October 24 at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Learn more at debra.org/benefits

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FOR MEDIA COVERAGE
Casey Fitzpatrick, Events & Communications Director: 212-868-1573, casey@debra.org