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Health & Fitness

Join HDSA for a special Cocktails for a Cure Happy Hour Fundraiser!

Join HDSA for Happy Hour to raise money for family services, education, advocacy and research for the more than 250,000 people diagnosed with or at-risk for Huntington's Disease in the US

New York, NY, April 10, 2013 – The New York/New Jersey Region of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) announced today that May is HD Awareness Month and volunteers are raising awareness of this devastating genetic neurological disease through their community event, Cocktails for a Cure.

Please join the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at the Black Bear Saloon (166 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY) on Friday, May 17th from 6:00 - 9:00pm to help us raise funds and awareness for Huntington's disease. All proceeds support HDSA’s fight to improve the lives of people affected by HD and their families. The New York/New Jersey Region is asking for support from the community to become a sponsor, donate products, volunteer to coordinate the activities or attend the event!

Among the many services the HDSA funds,  the Center of Excellence at Columbia Health Sciences/ New York State Psychiatric Institute provides people affected by HD with a unique team of specialists to treat the wide range of symptoms caused by the disease. The Centers of Excellence, supported by the HDSA, are comprehensive care centers where HD families are able to obtain medical care, counseling, access to physical and occupational therapy, genetic testing, and other elements of care.

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Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of cognitive, behavioral and physical control, and for which, presently, there is no cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Symptoms usually appear in an individual between 30 and 50 years of age and progress over a 10 to 25 year period.  Cases of juvenile HD have been diagnosed in children as young as two years of age.  Eventually, a person with HD becomes totally dependent upon others for his or her care. More than 30,000 people in the United States are currently diagnosed with HD.  Each of their siblings and children has a 50 percent risk of developing the disease, therefore 250,000 are at risk.  Although medications can relieve some symptoms in certain individuals, research has yet to find a means of conquering or even slowing the deadly progression of HD.  

To register or support Cocktails for a Cure, please visit hdsa.org/events, contact Sarah Katerle at (585) 643-5239 218 or by e-mailing skaterle@hdsa.org.

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About the Huntington’s Disease Society of America

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the largest 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. Founded in 1968 by Marjorie Guthrie, wife of folk legend Woody Guthrie who lost his battle with HD, the Society works tirelessly to provide the family services, education, advocacy and research to provide help for today, hope for tomorrow to the more than 30,000 people diagnosed with HD and the 250,000 at-risk in the United States. The Society is comprised of 45 local chapters and affiliates across the country with its headquarters in New York City. Additionally, HDSA supports 21 Centers of Excellence at major medical facilities throughout the U.S. and hosts more than 160 support groups for people with HD, their families, caregivers and people at-risk, and is the premiere resource on Huntington’s disease for medical professionals and the general public.  To learn more about Huntington’s disease and to get involved in HDSA, please visit www.hdsa.org or call 1-800-345-HDSA.

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