I didn’t know anything about Huntington disease when my sister-in-law Angela tested positive for the HD genetic mutation, but I wanted to help.
That’s why I chose to be involved and raise awareness about Huntington disease.
I called the Huntington Society of Canada to find out if there were any fundraising runs in the Okanagan I could sign up for. There weren’t any, so I started my own.
More than 100 people showed up for the first Run to Finish HD in Vernon, B.C. — far more than I expected.
An even bigger surprise was the amount of money that we raised. I was hoping for three, maybe four thousand dollars. The actual total? Over $14,000.
That was seven years ago. The event now takes place every year and has raised nearly $107,000 to date, along with a lot of awareness. It takes a bit of work to organize, but I’ve got a fantastic team of volunteers to help. And, of course, it’s for a great cause.
Each year, more than a hundred people show up to run or stroll a few kilometres and then enjoy music and a few hot dogs. It’s not an official Boston Marathon course or anything, just a small community coming together. After seeing the event take off, several other HSC Chapters were inspired to organize their own runs.
Angela and my brother-in-law split up a few years ago, but I continue to raise money for the Huntington’s cause and head up the Okanagan Chapter. Right now, I’m busy nailing down all the details for Run to Finish HD number eight.
It’s such a devastating disease. It makes me feel good to help out.
Click here to learn more about the 8th Annual Run to Finish Huntington Disease taking place May 23, 2015 in Vernon, B.C. To start an event or support an event in your community, visit www.huntingtonsociety.ca/events.