Nothing in the world feels better than win-win situations; and nothing in the world can be more of a win-win situation than being able to play poker and find a cure to a degenerative disease at the same time. Sound impossible? Not really. The start of the “All in for a Cure” Pledge Program has been announced by the PPI or Poker Players International and many stars have already signed up. This program is dedicated to helping the NephCure Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to find the cause of Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

The concept behind the program is relatively simple. Pros and amateurs alike will sign a pledge saying that they will donate 1% or more of their tournament winnings to the NephCure Foundation. They will also wear patches, hats, shirts, etc. that express support for the foundation. These items usually bear the NephCure Foundation logo or its slogan, “Saving Kidneys, Saving Lives”. Aside from the aim of raising funds for the foundation, the pledge also aims to raise the level of awareness about nephritic diseases and how they affect human lives. Many people suffer from the two diseases that the foundation focuses on, but they are still without a cure. And to make matters worse, their causes are still unknown. Nephcure aims to find the cause in the hopes that it will lead to the cure or, at the very least, a way to prevent the diseases from occurring. And, by donating just a meager amount, poker players can help further this aim. All they’re asking for is a small 1% of your winnings – it doesn’t really how much or how little that is, as NephCure needs all the help they can get.

The “All In For a Cure” Poker Pledge Program is supported by several pros who play for the PPI. One of them is Lee Childs who was able to get to the final table in the WSOP 2007. Jason Young, owner of a 2008 WSOP bracelet, is also part of the team along with Frank Vizza, the Circuit Event Champion in WSOP 2008. Gene Castro, the founder of PPI, and Eric Siegel, the Marketing and Player Development leader of PPI, are also included in the program. They have all signed a pledge saying that they will donate a percentage of their winnings from tournaments to the Nephcure Poker Pledge Program, ensuring that the program will get the funding it needs to reach its goal.