In addition to fundraising for a cause that has affected my own life, I want to dedicate my hike on the Pacific Crest Trail to a cause that supports my family. My stepsister, Jodi, recently lost her life in a sudden and tragic car accident. Jodi had Huntington's Disease, a chronic illness that ran in her family. Many people have heard about Huntington's Disease, but far fewer know the cause and effects of the disease. It is caused by a small error in one gene, called huntingtin. Over time, this error causes brain damage and leads to symptoms of the disease.
Huntington's Disease affects nearly every facet of a person's being, and ultimately results in deterioration of a person’s physical, mental, and emotional abilities, with symptoms usually emerging between the ages of 30 to 50. Roughly 41,000 Americans today exhibit symptoms and more than 200,000 currently have a 50% risk of inheriting the disease. It is a very difficult disease for both victims and their loved ones to experience and there is currently no cure, though research has demonstrated encouraging progress in recent year.
Although I cannot use the money I will raise to help Jodi in a literal sense, I am using it to help her in a figurative sense by supporting a cause that will fund research, provide education, and offer support to families impacted by Huntington's Disease. I also want to support my family, in general, who is currently navigating Jodi's untimely death, but most specifically, my stepfather, Garry, and my stepbrother, James. It is my hope that the money that I raise for the Huntington's Disease Society of America will help both people with Huntington's Disease and their families by funding research that will provide hope for a cure in the future. In addition, I hope that the money I raise for the Huntington's Disease Society of America will offer relief by offering needed support to families enduring the effects of Huntington's Disease and by providing education to help not only families impacted, but the general public learn more about the disease and be therefore better equipped to help.
Here is a link to the Huntington's Disease Society of America website, if you would like to learn more about their organization and Huntington's Disease in general:
https://hdsa.org/I am trying to raise $1,000 dollars for the Huntington's Disease Society of America through my hike. Please help me support this admirable cause! I welcome you to donate in one of several ways:
1. Make a singular donation of any amount you choose.
2. Make several donations throughout the course of my hike or one at the beginning and one at the end.
3. Make a pledge to donate a certain amount of money for a certain amount of miles that I accomplish. If you choose this option, I will keep you updated on my mileage so that you can make donations according to your pledge.
-For example: I will donate $20 for every 500 miles Kelly
hikes. Keep in mind that I plan to hike 100-150 miles per
week and that the PCT is roughly 2,650 miles. My goal is
to finish the whole thing.
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