LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the New York City Hemophilia Chap-
ter upon the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of its Hemophilia Walk

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are enhanced by the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations and
individuals that generously contribute to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
congratulate the New York City Hemophilia Chapter upon the occasion of
the 10th Anniversary of its Hemophilia Walk in Riverside Park on the
Upper West Side of Manhattan on May 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that prevents the
blood from clotting normally and causes internal bleeding due to a miss-
ing or defective protein called the clotting factor; and
WHEREAS, Internal bleeding most often occurs in the muscles and
joints, it can also occur in any organ including the brain, and may
occur spontaneously, even without injury, resulting in pain, swelling
and, if left untreated, permanent damage or even death; and
WHEREAS, Hemophilia is present in all demographic groups and affects
approximately one in ten thousand people; it affects mostly males and
there are some females with moderate or severe hemophilia and many more
who are carriers and may also have mild hemophilia; and
WHEREAS, People with hemophilia face a lifelong condition that
requires treatment through intravenous administration of the clotting
factor derived from human blood and produced through pharmaceutical
processes; and
WHEREAS, On the Upper West Side of Manhattan a particularly extraor-
dinary boy, Zak Stengel, who was born with severe Hemophilia A and must
infuse himself with artificial clotting factor regularly, has made it
his personal mission to educate and inform the public of hemophilia and
the struggles associated with it; and
WHEREAS, With the loving support of his parents, Melissa Penn and Adam
Stengel, and his siblings, Hope, Brody and Shao Shao Stengel, Zak has
made television and other media statements and appearances, has testi-
fied about his disease, including before the United Nations, and has
generally raised awareness of hemophilia; and
WHEREAS, Zak has received the Meritorious Service in Honor of Ryan
White Award from the National Hemophilia Foundation as a result of his
tireless advocacy; and
WHEREAS, Significant advances have been made in the diagnosis and
treatment of hemophilia making it possible for Zak and others like him
to live rich and active lives; however, there is no cure, and treatment
can be extremely costly and beyond the means of many individuals; and
WHEREAS, For 10 consecutive years, the New York City Hemophilia Chap-
ter has organized a Hemophilia Walk to raise money for education, advo-
cacy and research in the pursuit of less invasive treatments and an
eventual cure; and
WHEREAS, The Hemophilia Walk has steadily grown in participation,
attendance and monies raised each year; and
WHEREAS, The New York City Hemophilia Walk now raises more than
$250,000 each year; and
WHEREAS, The New York City Hemophilia Chapter has grown to where it
can organize a broad variety of educational and community events
throughout the year; and

WHEREAS, This particular event and others like it serve not only to
raise funds, but to create a community of support for those individuals
and their family and friends who are affected by the bleeding disorder;
and
WHEREAS, The 2015 Walk has assumed the ambitious goal of attracting
2000 walkers, a testament to its increasing reach and popularity; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the New York City Hemophilia Chapter upon the occasion of
the 10th Anniversary of its Hemophilia Walk; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York City Hemophilia Chapter.