Wired:

For mountain climbers this refers to having a route totally figured out. For people suffering with HD there is no route. There is no cure.

It is a fatal, degenerative brain disorder for which an effective treatment or cure has not yet been found. HD is passed genetically.  Children of HD sufferers have a 50% chance of developing the disease, which destroys one’s ability to walk, think, talk, and reason. It is estimtated 1 in 10,000 Americans, either suffer from the disease or risk inheriting it. Progress in research and treatment of HD also helps in other degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson’s disease, ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.

Nine months ago while my wife and I were browsing the local Barnes & Noble bookstore I happened to come across a book which was written by a firefighter from Racine, Wi. My wife had been pregnant at the time and I had simply been looking for something to read. Little did I know that book would change my life.

He started climbing and along the way raised over 40,000 dollars for local charities.  I had been overwhelmed, it was so simple and raised so much to help.

Several months passed, my son Jackson was born. I quickly fell into fatherhood...

Several more months passed, a good friend had been touched by HD. Melissa's father had been diagnosed, therefore she is at risk. I have tremendous respect for her. She left her corporate company, the cushy desk job and went to work as the Regional Director of the Great Lakes Chapter of HDSA.  Immediately upon hearing that, I began to think that I could  help my friend Melissa. I told "Missy" that I wanted to climb Mt. Rainier in August '07 to bring awareness and raise money for  HDSA.

A popular saying states, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with just one step".  This is my first step. To me it was clear that I could make a difference, I could help bring awareness of this disease.

Simply put, there is no cure. The people diagnosed with HD do not have a route which they can take.