Arlington teen raising money to fight bleeding disorder

Published 2:49 pm Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Ashlie Jensen’s sister, Karlie, was only two when she was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder called ITP.

I’ve never heard of this condition and had to look it up: If you have ITP, it means that your body’s immune system is attacking the platelets in your blood — the tiny cell fragments that help the blood to clot.

Karlie is 12 now, and the disease challenges her everyday.

The condition is life-threatening, and the treatments are expensive. For her senior project at Lakewood High School, Ashlie decided to do something to help people living with ITP.

She is organizing a 5K walk on Saturday to raise money and awareness for the Platelet Disorder Support Association.

“It’s been a long process of putting everything together,” Ashlie said.

She will turn 18 on the day of the walk.

If you want to help, visit pdsa.donorpages.com/PumpItUpArlingtonWA.

The walk starts at 10 a.m. at the Stillaguamish Athletic Club,
4417 172nd St. NE, Arlington, and goes through the Arlington Airport Trail.