Bestselling Author Mitch Albom To Be Featured Speaker At Annual Natalie`s Wish Fundraiser For Cystinosis In Newport Beach

IRVINE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Mitch Albom, author of all-time bestselling memoir "Tuesdays With Morrie" and
nationally acclaimed newspaper columnist and radio and television personality,
is scheduled as the headliner at this year`s Natalie`s Wish fundraising event
for the Cystinosis Research Foundation.

The eighth-annual Natalie`s Wish fundraiser is slated for Friday, May 8, at the
Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

Cystinosis is a rare genetic, metabolic and slowly fatal disease that afflicts
about 500 people, mostly children, in the United States. CRF is the world`s
largest non-profit provider of funds for cystinosis research. Because the cost
of CRF`s operations and fundraising activities is privately underwritten, 100
percent of all donations directly support medical research dedicated to finding
improved treatments and a cure for cystinosis.

Since 2003 CRF has funded research studies and fellowships totaling more than
$6.9 million. CRF-funded research, which has produced improved treatments, is
under way in France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and the United States. Last
year`s Natalie`s Wish event raised $1.8 million.

"We are honored this year to have Mitch Albom as our featured speaker," said
Nancy Stack, president and co-founder of the CRF.

"His books, including `Tuesdays With Morrie,` and their lessons in the meaning
of life and about dealing with searing emotional and personal challenges have
inspired millions. The messages in his books are consistent with our theme this
year, which is: One More Day - Celebrating Life, Love and Hope. We are looking
forward to a wonderful evening," she said.

Albom`s "Tuesdays With Morrie" is about his reunion and frequent visits with an
ailing former college professor. It sold 11 million copies. His other books,
including bestsellers "Five People You Meet In Heaven" and "For One More Day,"
have sold 15 million copies.

Albom`s accomplishments go beyond bestselling author.

In addition to having written two plays and founded three charities, Albom is a
highly respected sports writer and columnist for The Detroit News. He is a
panelist on ESPN`s "The Sports Reporters" and a weekly commentator for ESPN
radio. Albom also is an accomplished songwriter who briefly earned his living as
a singer and jazz pianist.

A Philadelphia native, Albom graduated from Brandeis University, majoring in
sociology. He earned master`s degrees in journalism and business administration
from Columbia University in New York. He is married and resides in Franklin,
Mich.

Fundraiser Named For Natalie Stack

The Natalie`s Wish fundraiser is named for cystinosis sufferer Natalie Stack,
17, of Corona del Mar. She is one of only about 500 in the United States and
2,000 worldwide.

Her father, Jeff, a managing partner of the SARES•REGIS Group of Irvine, is
prominent in the Southern California real estate industry and is a past chairman
of the National Multi Housing Council.

Jeff and his wife, Nancy, established the Cystinosis Research Foundation of
Irvine in 2003 after learning on Natalie`s 12th birthday that she had a secret
wish: "To have my disease go away forever." Natalie`s plea motivated the Stacks
to launch a campaign to aggressively fund research aimed at treating and curing
the disease.

Disease Attacks The Body`s Organs

In patients with cystinosis the amino acid cystine accumulates in the tissue due
to the inability of the body to transport cystine out of the cell. Over a period
of years, the cystine damages various organs including the kidneys, liver,
muscles, white blood cells, eyes and central nervous system. Other complications
occur that include muscle wasting and difficulty swallowing. As the cystine
accumulates in the cells, the various organs slowly deteriorate.

Fortunately, the drug cysteamine slows the progression of cystinosis by removing
the cystine from cells, but for the drug treatment to be effective, it must be
taken every six hours. Although this has led to a much better future for these
children, cysteamine is not a cure.

For more information about Natalie`s Wish and the Cystinosis Research Foundation
of Irvine, Calif., call Zoe Solsby at (949) 223-7610 or visit
www.natalieswish.org.

Cystinosis Research Foundation
Art Barrett, 714-508-1950
Zoe Solsby, 949-223-7610

Copyright Business Wire 2009