At YourHub.com, we take pleasure in writing about and seeing stories posted by users about charitable events in our communities. Events such as Race for the Cure event draw from our own ranks in support of these worthy causes.

I'd like to inform you of another event coming up to fight a disease that may affect as many as one in 5,000 Americans, yet is not widely known, even among many in the medical community.

Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder thatcan affectnearly all the body systems including heart and blood vessels, skeleton, muscles, lungs, nervous system, eyes and skin. At one time, a diagnosis of Marfan was described as often being fatal - and people still die quite young.

It varies widely in degree of severity, and there is currently no cure, only treatment, including surgery to mitigate its effects.

Marfan syndrome can dramatically affect lives, and is the cause of early death in many cases, usually from heart problems such as aneurysms or dissections of the aorta.

Some promising research has been done recently looking for the root genetic causes of Marfan syndrome and some potential treatments are in the animal research stages right now.

My own mother died from an aneurysm quite young, my daughter survived an aortic dissection, and I have been affected in various ways, including heart and joint problems, that required surgery,medication and regular monitoring.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, the annual Chef and Brewers Dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery in Denver will feature a four-course meal, each course paired with a tasty beer from the restaurant's selections. Tickets are $35, with a portion of the proceeds going to Marfan research. The wait staff at Rock Bottom donates their services for this event, and it features food not found on the regular menu.

The impact of Marfan can be devastating. At one Marfan event, I spoke with a Colorado family who had lost four members at an early age to the disease, with others at risk.

So, join us for this taste treat and help fight an often devastating disease and promote more awareness of its symptoms - many people never know that have the disease until a serious medical condition arises. Actor John Ritter, best known for his role in the television show Three's Company, died suddenly in 2003 of what's believed to have been an aortic dissection caused by Marfan's or related connective tissue disorder.

For more information on Marfan syndrome, go to the Marfan Foundation Web site, www.marfan.org.