Hi
I am doing the Runher 10k at Titanic Quarter on 10th September for Huntington's Disease Association Northern Ireland. My sister in law and her family suffer from the disease.
Huntingtons Disease is a rare inherited condition affecting hundreds of people across Northern Ireland. Symptoms normally begin in mid adulthood but some children and older people can be affected. The disease causes cells in the brain to die, meaning that people gradually lose the ability to control the mood, thoughts, feelings, behaviour, speech, movement and swallow until they require full time care. Every child of a person with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.
There is currently no cure and no treatment to help slow down the disease.
HDANI is the only charity in Northern Ireland helping people with HD and they provide advice, practical and emotional support, training and opportunities for families to connect, share and learn from each other. they also work with young people from HD families to help them better understand and cope with the disease as well as training health and social care professionals to improve patient care.
Any money raised will go towards supporting local families living in Northern Ireland. The charity receives no government funds at present and employs only three staff who all work from home to reduce costs and maximise the money spent on supporting families.
Many thanks for your support