Together, We Will Find a Cure

We Need You

We Can’t Do It Alone.

Your involvement is critical to every effort being made to find a cure for mitochondrial disease. Join the fight by giving your voice, generosity, time or energy. The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation appreciates your interest in being a part of our community. We can work together to find a cure.

Ways to Fundraise

Get involved by fundraising with family and friends to support mitochondrial disease research, treatments, educational resources and a path to a cure. 

Energy For Life 

UMDF hosts Energy for Life Walkathons all across the country. Start or join a fundraising team today.

Activate Your Mitochondria

Turn an athletic activity that gets your mitochondria moving into a fundraiser.

DIY Fundraising

Create a web page for your fundraiser to drum up support online and across social media.

PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT

Visit our Events Calendar to support a UMDF fundraiser in your hometown.

Family Impact Funds

Establish a fund to honor or memorialize a loved one affected by mitochondrial disease.

Our Team is at the Ready

Our special events team is here to help make your fundraising event a success. If you’re looking for more fundraising ideas, check out our “50 Ways to Fundraise” article or call our events team at 888-317-8633 about:

  • Budgeting guidance and timelines
  • Custom websites to sell tickets or collect registrations
  • Ready-to-use sponsorship material
  • Solicitation letters to collect donations and auction items
  • Publicity in the UMDF Events Calendar
  • Targeted email campaigns 
  • Connecting with local families
  • Writing grants and gathering documentation
  • Navigating local raffle laws
  • Protocols for state regulation disclosures

Our Team is at the Ready

Our special events team is here to help make your fundraising event a success. If you’re looking for more fundraising ideas, check out our “50 Ways to Fundraise” article or call our events team at 888-317-8633 about:

  • Budgeting guidance and timelines
  • Custom websites to sell tickets or collect registrations
  • Ready-to-use sponsorship material
  • Solicitation letters to collect donations and auction items
  • Publicity in the UMDF Events Calendar
  • Targeted email campaigns
  • Connecting with local families
  • Writing grants and gathering documentation
  • Navigating local raffle laws
  • Protocols for state regulation disclosures

Participate in Research

Patients, family members and caregivers can help the global mitochondrial disease community by participating in research efforts. 

labs funded across the globe

Join mitoSHARE: Mitochondrial Disease Registry

Help advance the development of treatments and cures.

Enroll in a Clinical Trial to Help Fuel the Research for a Cure

See if you’re eligible to participate in clinical studies. 

Volunteer

Join the fight by volunteering your time and talents to helping the cause. Because we can’t do it alone. 

support ambassadors deployed across the U.S.

Be a UMDF Volunteer or Ambassador

We count on UMDF volunteers every day, including our nationwide network of Support Ambassadors.

Be an Advocate for Better Funding

Use your voice to impact legislation affecting the mitochondrial community at the federal and state level.

Double Your Impact

See if your company matches your volunteer service hours!

UMDF has been a light in our life. They have supported my family in so many ways and have offered so much hope to me and to thousands of mito families.
Hayley Leib

UMDF Ambassador

As an ambassador for the UMDF, I hope to give back what brought me back to life, understanding, empathy, encouragement, and hope.

Susan Schreer Davis

UMDF Ambassador

Volunteer Awards

Each year, UMDF honors the dedication of our volunteers. Nominate an individual for a UMDF Volunteer Award here.

The Energy Award recognizes an individual who embodies the spirit of the UMDF’s mission — promoting research and education for the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of mitochondrial disorders, along with supporting affected individuals and families. Click here to view the Energy Award winners.

The LEAP (Living, Encouraging, Achieving and Persisting) Award is presented to an individual who is age 14 or older living positively with mitochondrial disease. The Awardee overcomes daily challenges to achieve goals in career, family, and volunteer service. The individual demonstrates a positive attitude, hope for a brighter future, and an enthusiasm that inspires others. Click here to view the LEAP Award winners.

The Heartstrings Award recognizes a child or teen that has donated or raised funds for the UMDF, enabling the UMDF to continue its mission. The winner is chosen based on related criteria of age, time invested, talents demonstrated, effectiveness, and generosity and how the individual has “tugged at the heartstrings.” Click here to view the Heartstrings Award winners.

The Stanley A. Davis Leadership Award recognizes a UMDF leader who exemplifies dedication to the mission of the UMDF. The award was created to honor the dedication and work of the late UMDF Chairman, Stanley A. Davis. Click here to view the Leadership Award winners.

I Want to Volunteer

From fundraising and administrative duties to educating patient families, volunteers and Support Ambassadors are valuable assets to UMDF.  Please complete the form below to request information and get started!