DUNYA’s Fund

Meet Evdokia (Dunya) Bykon. A beautiful child born with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. As a result, she is paralyzed below the chest. In the first 5 years of her young life, she underwent over 7 surgeries. Dunya has come a long way to an active and healthy life. But there is still a long way ahead for her to the complete victory. She has learned to sit independently, she has excellent grip, she can independently ride in her wheelchair and has very strong arms. Recently her father, Father Alexei Bykon (rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in San Francisco) and family learned of a new method of treatment of spina bifida which involves stem cell replacement. The neurosurgeons who treats Dunya are very optimistic about the possible outcome and recommend the treatment for Dunya. The treatment is only available outside the United States and not covered by insurance. Last year, Dunya underwent the first of a series of treatments, and while prognosis is good, she still needs more treatments until she can walk on her own. PLEASE HELP DUNYA realize her dream of walking and running like normal children.

Congress of Russian Americans is raising the funds for Dunya’s much needed treatments, so that she has a chance to walk and run like other children. Please donate to the CRA – Dunya’s Fund. As CRA is a non-profit 501(c)-3 organization, all of your donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the donation will go towards Dunya’s much-needed treatments.

Please send your tax-deductible donations to:

Congress of Russian Americans (Memo: Dunya’s fund)

2460 Sutter Street

San Francisco, CA 94115