Our walk has been featured on the channel 2 website -- http://www.click2houston.com/sports/17725723/detail.html
Thanks so much for making a donation to the 2008 Huntington's Walk for Hope. The money raised goes to a really good cause and it will eventually help scientists and researchers find a cure for Huntington's Disease so that no more people will die of this devastating disease. If you are able, come out and join us at the walk. It will be held in Sugar Land, Texas at the beautiful Oyster Creek Park. If you need more information regarding the walk go to our walk website at www.runtocurehd.com.
Huntington's Disease: a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is, at present, no effective treatment or cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Eventually, the person with HD becomes totally dependent upon others for his or her care. Huntington's Disease profoundly affects the lives of entire families -- emotionally, socially and economically.
Early symptoms of Huntington's Disease may affect cognitive ability or mobility and include depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, clumsiness, involuntary twitching and lack of coordination. As the disease progresses, concentration and short-term memory diminish and involuntary movements of the head, trunk and limbs increase. Walking, speaking and swallowing abilities deteriorate. Eventually the person is unable to care for him or herself. Death follows from complications such as choking, infection or heart failure.
HD typically begins in mid-life, between the ages of 30 and 50, though onset may occur as early as the age of 2. Children who develop the juvenile form of the disease rarely live to adulthood.
HD affects males and females equally and crosses all ethnic and racial boundaries. Each child of a person with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the fatal gene. Everyone who carries the gene will develop the disease. In 1993, the HD gene was isolated and a direct genetic test developed which can accurately determine whether a person carries the HD gene. The test cannot predict when symptoms will begin. However, in the absence of a cure, some individuals "at risk" elect not to take the test.
So please take time to consider making a donation to this worthy cause and save future generations.
Thanks, Denise