Natural Beauty Of Wonder Drugs Inspires Neckties

When is a necktie more than a necktie? When its purchase is also a donation to help in the fight against childhood illnesses.

In October, the Jos. A. Bank men’s clothier teamed with designers from Stonehenge, Ltd. to introduce a collection of neckwear designed to make a difference by focusing awareness on the importance of pediatric medicine. All profits from the sale of these beautiful ties will go to help support the research efforts at the Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Stonehenge, Ltd., the company that brought us the ties designed by the late Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead, has created The Miracle Collection, 100 percent silk neckties.

The computer-generated designs take their colors and patterns from the extraordinary natural beauty of the molecular structures of eight medicines used routinely by physicians to treat childhood diseases:

AZT - used to reduce a baby’s chance of contracting HIV from his/her mother.

Cyclosporin - keeps the body’s immune system from rejecting a transplanted organ.

Acetaminophen - prescribed to children instead of aspirin, since aspirin has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening childhood disorder.

Erythromycin - protects children against minor infections such as strep throat.

Hydrocortisone - used as a cream, it clears up severe cases of infantile eczema and guards against skin infections.

Clotrimazole - soothes the discomfort of irritated skin and lessens the discomfort of more serious fungal infections.

Paclitaxel - used to stop the spread of childhood cancers. It is also used to treat adult breast, ovarian, and lung cancers.

Hydroxyurea - diminishes the frequency of painful symptoms associated with adult sickle cell anemia. Tests are being conducted to determine if the drug will be useful to children.

Several organizations use the sale of neckwear to help raise funds for a cause, but many only donate a small portion of their proceeds - usually 5 or 10 per cent - to the designated charity.

All profits from the sale of The Miracle Collection neckwear, sold for $39.50 each, will be donated to the charity.

To purchase these neckties call (800) 285-2265 and help make a difference in a child’s life.

MEMO: Shanna Southern Peterson is a Spokane writer and home economist. The Clothesline appears weekly. Ideas for the column may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, or e-mail shanptr@aol.com