Operation Save McKinnon
The headaches started a few days before her sixteenth birthday. This was the start of problems for McKinnon Galloway, AFSOPT alumni Mitch Galloway’s sister. McKinnon was diagnosed neurofibromatosis 2. Neurofibromatosis 2 is a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in your nervous system, causing tumors to form on nerve tissue. These tumors may develop anywhere in your nervous system, including in your brain, spinal cord and nerves. She has already endured two surgeries and the Galloways have donated a large amount of money towards finding alternate ways to curing this condition. Each time she has to have a surgery the chance she could go deaf, have facial paralysis, and lose her ability to speak. The Galloways are currently attempting to fundraise for an initiative led by the Childhood Tumor Foundation that is going to develop new, safer ways to treat neurofibromatosis.
In early April Mitch started reaching out to his friends in order to support his family’s effort. AFSOPT collectively decided to act and Operation Save McKinnon began. Members began posting the donation link everywhere, sending out emails to their Corps companies and ROTC units, and talking to their families. Undoubtedly this effort produced at least a couple thousand dollars in donations. In addition to this AFSOPT also held a car wash which produced $553.
We are dedicated to helping McKinnon and supporting the Galloway family through these trying times.
