 Team
HOPE Walk for Huntington's Disease
Sat. October 18, 2008, 10am
San Francisco
Crissy Field
Team HOPE Walking for HD is a national walk-a-thon designed to provide help and
hope for those touched by this devastating disease. More than a walk, it is a
way to show the nation how a team of inspired individuals can join together to
make a difference.
Team HOPE will be happening in eight cities around the country
this year. You, your family and company can make a huge difference to this campaign.
Please join us in providing hope for HD by taking one (or all) of the following
actions today!
Join the TEAM! Register today and automatically become a
member of Team HOPE... because no one should face HD alone!
Form a Team! Teams are groups of 4 or more family members,
friends, and/or co-workers who join together to fight HD. Register now to start
signing up your team at www.firstgiving.org/hdsateamhope
Become a Committee Member! Team HOPE is driven by hundreds
of dedicated planning committee members. If you are interested in joining your
local committee, simply contact your SF Bay Area coordinator, Merle Weiner at
mweiner4hd@gmail.com
Pass HOPE along! If you can't join the team this year, please
ask someone to join in your place as either a walker or team captain
Funds raised will support the mission of HDSA, the largest
voluntary health agency dedicated to finding a cure, supporting everyone whose
lives have been touched by HD as well as providing direct assistance to those
families living daily with HD. More than a fundraiser, it is a time for the entire
HD community to join together in a day of camaraderie, inspiration and above
all, hope.
Contact: Penny Riley
HDSA Regional Development Director
Northern and Central CA - Northern NV
2860 Gateway Oaks Dr. #300, Sacramento, CA. 95833
plriley@sundt.com
916 927-4400, 916 830-8015 Fax
www.hdsanortherncalifornia.org
What is Huntington's Disease?
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a hereditary neurological brain disorder that
slowly robs the affected individual of the ability to walk, talk, think and
reason. HD affects over 30,000 Americans and places more than 200,000 “at-risk” for
developing the disorder. In Northern California it is estimated at
least 1,000 individuals are affected with more than an additional 7,000 at risk.
Persons with HD develop symptoms which include slurred speech,
unsteady gait and handwriting, leading to uncontrollable body movements and eventual
loss of mental facilities. Personality changes and depression often accompany
the physical changes.
Every child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting
the HD gene, which is located on chromosome four. Although it usually affects
adults between the ages 30 and 45, symptoms can appear in young children and
older adults.
The course of illness usually appears in three stages. In
the early stages of
the disease, manifestations include subtle changes in coordination,
sometimes minor involuntary movements, difficulty thinking and reasoning,
and often a depressed mood, anxiety or irritability.
In the middle stages, chorea movements may become more prominent.
People start having difficulty swallowing and speaking clearly.
Late stage disease is characterized by immobility and requires
major
assistance in all activities of daily living.
Currently there is no known cure
for HD. Current treatment is aimed only at controlling the symptoms
of the disease. However, amazing progress is
being made in the research fields of genetics and neurodegenerative
disorders. Our scientists tell us that each day we grow closer to solving the
HD puzzle and the future has never been more promising. With financial
support, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America can increase the pace
of HD research, fund more researchers and speed the identification of
effective therapies that will improve the lives of those affected by the disease.
It is important to remember that funding for this disease
is actually funding for all neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s
and Parkinson’s. Because HD is the farthest along in neurological disease
in regards to finding a cure, its research and successes directly benefit the
progression of research in all the neurological diseases. Research is the only
way we will ever find a cure for HD.
What is HDSA?
Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) is
a national non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for Huntington's
Disease (HD) while providing support and services for those living with HD and
their families. HDSA promotes and supports both clinical and basic HD research,
aids families in coping with the multi-faceted problems presented by HD and educates
the families, the public and health care professionals about Huntington's Disease.
HDSA Northern California is your local HDSA chapter serving
the entire Northern California and Northern Nevada regions. Located in West Sacramento,
HDSA Northern California serves approximately 1,000 families and organizations
in our HD community.
Some of the many services that HDSA Northern California provides
to the local HD community include:
• Advocacy
• Education and Nursing Home In-services
• Information and Referrals
• Social Worker Assistance
• Research Funding
• Support Groups
• Toll Free Support Line.
HDSA Northern California also hosts an annual convention and produces The Nucleus,
the HDSA Northern California Newsletter.
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