BENIGN ESSENTIAL

BLEPHAROSPASM
RESEARCH FOUNDATION

YEAR-END FUNDRAISING APPEAL

1981 1982 1984

BEBRF is formed by First BEBRF Seminar Botulinum Toxin determined

Mattie Lou Koster. is held in Houston, TX. as effective treatment for BEB.

1989 1986 1985

FDA approved Oculinum as BEBRF went international First research grant

a treatment for BEB. * with a conference in Spain. funded by BEBRF.

2007 2014 2020

BEBRF helped to BEBRF co-funded 4 year BEBRF survived & thrived

form the DAN.** Project 4: BEB Study. during pandemic.

*FDA approval was the result of a BEBRF research project. BEBRF turns 40!
** For more information about the DAN, see article on page 15.
WHAT YOUR DONATIONS DID IN 2020 AND 2021
1. FUNDED A LANDMARK RESEARCH PROJECT ON CBD AS AN ADJUNCT TO
BLEPHAROSPASM TREATMENT. YOU ALSO FUNDED A RESEARCH PROJECT LOOKING INTO
THE GENETICS BEHIND THE CAUSE OF BLEPHAROSPASM.

2. PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING:

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR BEB WITH DRS. CHARLES SOPARKAR & JENNIFER MURDOCK
OPENING OUR EYES TO STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR BEB WITH DR. JAELLINE JAFFE
OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY FOR BEB WITH JONATHAN HEALY &
CAROLYN CLEVERLEY
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION FOR BEB AND DYSTONIA WITH DR. SVJETLANA MIOCINOVIC
& DEE LINDE
CRANIAL DYSTONIA (BLEPHAROSPASM AND OROMANDIBULAR DYSTONIA) – AN
ALTERNATIVE TO MEIGE SYNDROME WITH DR. JOSEPH JANKOVIC
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICARE BUT WERE AFRAID TO
ASK. - CHARLENE HUDGINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEBRF

ALL OF THESE WEBINARS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

3. TRANSITIONED SUCCESSFULLY FROM IN-PERSON SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS TO

FREQUENT ONLINE ZOOM SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS, INCLUDING REGIONAL, NATIONAL,
INTERNATIONAL, AND SPECIAL SGMS FOR CRANIAL DYSTONIA (MEIGE) PATIENTS AND
CAREGIVERS. PROVIDED FIRST-TIME SUPPORT GROUP EXPERIENCE TO NUMEROUS
PATIENTS WHO EITHER DON’T HAVE TRANSPORTATION OR DON’T HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP
IN THEIR AREA. THIS SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE POST-PANDEMIC.

4. ATTENDED OCULOPLASTIC SURGEON AND OPHTHALMOLOGY ACADEMIES TO EDUCATE

PHYSICIANS ON BEB FOR FASTER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS.

ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL ACTIVITIES OF BEBRF,

INCLUDING CREATING NEW EDUCATIONAL PACKETS, NEWSLETTERS, AND COUNSELING
PATIENTS ONE-ON-ONE.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY BY:

USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
GOING TO OUR WEBSITE: WWW.BLEPHAROSPASM.ORG TO MAKE
A ONE TIME OR MONTHLY RECURRING DONATION
CALLING THE BEBRF OFFICE AT 409-832-0788
 OUR IMPACT OVER THE YEARS
SINCE 1981 BEBRF HAS AWARDED ALMOST $3 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS.
ONE STUDY RESULTED IN BOTULINUM TOXIN BEING APPROVED FOR TREATMENT,
AND IT REMAINS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FORM OF TREATMENT FOR OUR PATIENTS
AS WELL AS OTHER DYSTONIA PATIENTS.

BEBRF MAINTAINS A PATIENT DATABASE WITH CURRENTLY OVER 4,000

PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE PROVIDED WITH
EDUCATION AND RESOURCES. WE CONTINUE TO GROW EACH YEAR.

BEBRF VOLUNTEERS TYPICALLY HOLD OVER FIFTY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS A

YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

OVER 100 PEOPLE ATTEND THE ANNUAL BEBRF SYMPOSIUM TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT BLEPHAROSPASM. ATTENDANCE IS INTERNATIONAL.

BEBRF STAFF SPENDS AN AVERAGE OF 8 – 10 HOURS A WEEK, COUNSELING

PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS ON WAYS TO COPE WITH THEIR BLEPHAROSPASM.

IN 2020, BEBRF IMPLEMENTED ONLINE ZOOM SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS TO

CONTINUE OFFERING SUPPORT TO PATIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND REACH
THOSE WHO CAN’T TYPICALLY ATTEND MEETINGS IN PERSON INCLUDING THOSE
IN THE UK. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP SUPPORTING THOSE IN NEED.

BEBRF HOSTS ONLINE WEBINARS EVERY FEW MONTHS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE

MORE EDUCATION TO PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS.
BENIGN ESSENTIAL BLEPHAROSPASM
RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 12468 NON PROFIT ORG.
BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77726-2468 U.S. POSTAGE
409-832-0788 PAID
ED
C LOS BEAUMONT, TEXAS
I A L EN PERMIT #299
R
ATE
T E D M
DA

MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT WITH YOUR DONATIONS!

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T H E B E G I N N I N G O F T H E Y E A R I S T H E P ER F EC T T IM E T O SET U P A R EC URRIN G D ON AT ION . J U S T

C A L L T H E B E B R F A T 4 0 9 - 8 3 2 - 0 7 8 8 , A N D W E'L L B E H A P P Y T O H EL P Y O U S ET IT U P . Y OU W ON ' T
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C A L L , A N D H E L P U S H E L P B L E P H A R O SP A SM P A T IEN T S EV ER Y W H ER E. . .