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Dave and Susie Hodgson are Co-Chairs of TEAM HOPE-Walk For A Cure, and first met in an on-line support group in 1998. They were each taking care of their spouses who had HD. HD is a genetic, neuro-degenerative disease for which there is no cure or treatment. It is always fatal. Dave and Susie were two people, searching for answers. They were looking for anything that would help them cope with losing their loved ones to HD and the devastating affects Huntington’s Disease was having on their families. Each cared for their loved one at home until the end, fighting to ensure that they had the best quality of care possible and that they were allowed to die with dignity.
A devastating disease brought them together, and showed them that there is hope even in the face of such devastation. Married a little over 3 years ago, they continue the fight together to create public awareness and raise funds for research for this devastating disease. Their personal battle against HD is not over. Susie and her late husband had 3 children. Her oldest son tested positive for Huntington’s Disease in 2002, her middle son tested negative in 2004, and her youngest was adopted and is not at risk. Dave and his late wife had 4 children, and each has a 50/50 chance of having inherited the defective gene that causes HD from their mother. Dave’s children have chosen not to test at this time and are presently not showing any symptoms.
The disease is relentlessly progressive, often taking between 10 and 25 years to fully manifest. Most late stage HD patients are totally dependent upon a care giver, usually a family member; they cannot walk, speak or swallow. HD patients usually die from pneumonia, heart failure or other complications. Juvenile Huntington's Disease (JHD) occurs when a person is diagnosed with HD before the age of 20. It affects children as young as two years of age. JHD is more severe and progresses much faster.
There are 30,000 persons in the currently diagnosed with HD, and each of their siblings and children has a 50 percent chance of developing it. Anyone can carry the gene and develop HD, regardless of age, race ethnicity, gender, geographic location or socio-economic status. HD is a "family disease," not just because it is inherited from a parent, but also because it profoundly affects the entire family unit emotionally, socially, and financially. Because of this, there are over 790,000 persons in the impacted by the disease. Please visit http://www.hdsa.org for more information about Huntington's Disease.
This is the 5th Annual Walk For A Cure. So far we have helped raise over $160,000 in 4 years for research. We need YOUR help to find a cure or treatment that haunts our family. Won’t you please take the time to help us reach our goal? Help us make this the LAST generation to know Huntington’s Disease! Don't give 'til it hurts...rather, give 'til it feels GOOD!
Thank you for visiting my Personal Fundraising Page. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
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