This foundation was formed to advocate awareness of children afflicted with Menkes disease. Menkes is a rare genetic disease that is commonly missed by the medical community because the signs and symptoms at birth and in early infancy are subtle and often confused with other diseases. Early treatment of symptoms is crucial for these children to maintain a sense of normalcy during their infancy and early childhood. Our goal is to achieve improvements in health, education, and community involvement through medical conferences, fundraising events and other similar endeavors.

We would like to provide a living example of the brotherhood that friends and families who have lost a loved one to this disease can achieve through commitment to common charitable activities in honor of their loved one. Our ultimate goal is to create a national charitable organization that promotes the memory and spirit of our son, Wesley Quinn Eckman, by encouraging prenatal genetic testing for neurological related diseases.

The Menkes Foundation is a non-profit organization
covered under section 501(c)(3) of IRS tax law.