New England Hemophilia Association holds annual Fall Fest

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WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE): The New England Hemophilia Association held its annual Fall Fest in Warwick, RI on Sunday. 

For the first time, the Fest included a workshop tailored to high school students.

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that creates problems in the body’s blood clotting system. As a result, stable clots do not form, and prolonged bleeding occurs. Therefore, many teens aren’t able to participate in popular extracurricular activities, such as sports.

To provide an alternative outlet for creative expression, the teen workshop focused on the power of the arts and healing.

Research studies have shown that participation and engagement in the arts have a variety of outcomes, including improved well-being and positive self-identity and reduction in depression, stress, and anxiety.

During the workshop, the teens had the opportunity to paint how living with hemophilia makes them feel, as well as learn a song written and developed by other teens with a bleeding disorder. T

he workshop was coordinated by the production agency Believe Limited and sponsored by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals.

There are an estimated 1,000 persons with hemophilia in New England and 20,000 in the United States.

©WLNE-TV/ABC 6 2019