Poker star Jennifer Harman takes pledge

BERWYN, Pennsylvania -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World-renowned poker player Jennifer Harman has taken the Poker Players International "All-In for a Cure" pledge and will donate one percent of her earnings to The NephCure Foundation, which funds research into the debilitating kidney diseases Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Harman, who suffers from kidney disease and has had two transplants, joins a stable of other players who have already taken the "pledge," including Frank Vizza and Lee Childs, Matt Glantz and PPI Founder Eugene Castro.

"Kidney disease is extremely difficult," said Harman, the only woman with two World Series of Poker bracelets. "It is invisible and it affects kids and adults alike. NephCure is trying to find an answer and I'm here to help by joining 'All-in for a Cure.'"

NephCure has dedicated over $6 million in recent years towards research of FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome, two conditions that affect the tiny filtering mechanisms in the kidney. Former NBA star Alonzo Mourning suffered from FSGS and needed a kidney transplant. Former Major League Baseball player, Ed Hearn, has undergone three kidney transplants and continues to suffer from FSGS. The cause for these diseases is unknown and there is no cure.

"It is great to have someone with the pedigree and reputation of Jennifer joining PPI's pledge program," said PPI's Marketing and Player Development Leader Eric Siegel, whose son suffers from the kidney disease Nephrotic Syndrome. "Having her involved in this program is a tremendous benefit to everyone and I expect it to lead to more players coming on board. She understands the responsibility to give back. By doing so hopefully we can find a cure for this horrible disease that affects thousands of people."

Poker Players International (PPI, www.ppipoker.com) is the world's largest poker player agency. With its Corporate Client and Live Events Divisions, and soon-to-be launched General Membership, PPI is among the preeminent poker services company in the world.

Comprised of patients, their families and friends, researchers, physicians and other healthcare professionals, Nephcure (www.nephcure.org) aims to help science unlock the biological mechanisms that cause these serious diseases and ultimately find better treatment and a way prevent them.

The Nephcure Foundation has a unique challenge in identifying patient families. Privacy laws preclude doctors from providing information and because kidney diseases are invisible, people tend to struggle with them silently. Interested parties can donate or receive further information at www.nephcure.org