Jill and Eddie Vedder gathered good people for a good cause on Alki Beach

Philanthropist Jill Vedder and child representative for EBResarch.org, Patterson led a large group of donors and participants in the 2024 Plunge for Elodie at Alki Beach on April 21. 

Photo by Patrick Robinson

Two of West Seattle’s most well known residents, Jill and Eddie Vedder came to Alki Beach on Aprll 21 along with a large group of donors to Plunge for Elodie. The plunge was in support of research for treatments for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a genetic skin disorder.Individuals with EB lack critical proteins that bind the skin’s two layers together. Without these proteins, the skin tears apart, blisters, and shears off, leading to severe pain, disfigurement, and internal and external wounds that may never heal.

Plunges such as this now take place all over the world. To date they’ve raised 2.5 million dollars locally and this year alone they are at $450,000. The first Seattle plunge was last year but Jill said, “This is our first big year where we decided to really rally the troops and bring out our community to suppport us.”

She originally got involved because her oldest childhood friend had a child with EB and she was so moved by his plight that she co-founded EBResearch.org and the organization has now raised nearly 70 million dollars. There are clinical trials of treatments taking place and two treatments have come out of that research.

Patterson is a boy who suffers with EB but who is now recieving one of the new treatments. He and Jill were on hand on Alki Beach for the event, both ready to plunge on behalf of the organization and research.

If you’d like to learn more or donate to the effort visit. www.ebresearch.org