The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is hosting an upcoming virtual walk this weekend to raise awareness and fundraise for families affected with the genetic disorder.
Team Hope Walk is HDSA’s signature fundraising event, which generates a number of virtual and in-person walks across the country. The grassroots fundraiser will head to the state for its second time this year.
The organization will kick the weekend off with a virtual happy hour at 6 p.m. on Friday. The event will feature a costume contest, trivia and a message from Victor Sung, the director of The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Huntington’s Disease Clinic.
After that, residents may lace up their tennis shoes, choose a course and walk on their own throughout the remainder of this weekend. HDSA says it encourages all walkers to post pictures on social media for it to share. The organization will make its own posts on its Southern Region and Alabama Team Hope Walk Facebook pages including a stretching video for those just about to walk.
Regional Development Officer Melissa Wind said she hopes this event will serve as an opportunity not only for community members to donate to the organization but to spend time with one another.
“Really what I hope it will accomplish is to keep the momentum, the impact and just the feeling of connectedness moving forward,” Wind said. “We know that our families who were affected by Huntington's, the days of quarantine were incredibly long and challenging, and we really missed being together.”
Wind said Huntington’s Disease affects 41,000 Americans symptomatically. Another 200,000 are at risk for inheriting it. Wind said the disorder impacts everybody.
“It is important for us all to understand that when somebody in our community is affected, it affects all of us,” Wind said. “All of our advocacy, our research that goes into Huntington’s Disease and goes into HDSA, really affects the lives of people affected by Huntington’s as well as the people who love them and the people around them.”
HDSA gave the state and Alabama Team Hope Walk a $15,000 donation goal this year. So far, the organization has raised $10,800. All proceeds will go directly to HDSA’s research and resources for families with Huntington’s including funding for social workers and support groups. Wind said any money donated is money donated for a good cause.
“All of your dollars go toward making a difference in so many people’s lives,” Wind said.
For Alabamians interested in attending the virtual happy hour, they may visit the Alabama Team Hope Walk Facebook page to register directly. They may also visit HDSA’s website, find its events tab and register from there.
For residents who cannot attend the virtual happy hour, you may still participate in the virtual walk throughout the weekend. Residents who do or do not walk may still donate on the HDSA website. Fundraiser prizes include T-shirts, baseball caps, polar cups and backpacks. Donations may be made to the event itself or to teams and individuals who are participating in the walk.
There is currently no cure for Huntington’s Disease, but the Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are a variety of treatments available to lessen the severity of motor, behavioral and cognitive symptoms.
