For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Cosentino, Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: (212) 242-1968 x229
Email: ccosentino@hdsa.org
New York, NY (November 2015) – The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) TCS New York City Marathon team raised more than $125,000 to support HDSA’s mission to improve the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease (HD). At the world’s largest marathon, HDSA finished in the top 18 among all charity partners.
“We had a goal of $70,000 and our team absolutely crushed that mark,” said Louise Vetter CEO of HDSA. “For a rare disease organization to finish in the top 18 of all the charity partners at the NYC Marathon is a true testament to the commitment the community has to helping families affected by Huntington’s disease and providing hope to one day end this horrible disease.”
This year’s team was made up of 24 members from twelve US states. The team’s most successful fundraisers were Clark Wrigley (Parsippany, NJ) who raised $30,115 and Christy Ericson (Menlo Park, CA) who raised $17,747. Jonathan Quackenbush (Boston, MA) was the team’s first finisher with an impressive time of 3:42:09. The rest of the team consisted of Doug Buskin (Denver, CO), Elizabeth Christian (Suffolk, VA), Stacie Constas (Dover, NH), Sheila Damiani (Mesa, AZ), Ashley Driscoll (Richmond, VA), Jennifer Henel (Alexandria, VA), Noah Houghland (New York, NY), Marisa Hughes (Boston, MA), Melissa Jeng (Seattle, WA), Mindy Kincade (Haslet, TX), Maggie Kiselick (New York, NY), Rebecca Martinez (Campbell, CA), Kathleen McCarthy (So. Boston, MA), Katie Mullin (Brant Rock, MA), Kelly Mullin (Pembroke, MA), Heather Rennie (Brighton, MA), Kendrick Ribeiro (Menlo Park, CA), Laura Schmit (Salem, CT), Josh Silverstein (Brooklyn, NY), Devin Sullivan (New City, NY) and Deborah Zimmerman (Pfafftown, PA).
Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene. Today, there are 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. Many describe the symptoms of HD as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today, hope for tomorrow for people with Huntington’s disease and their families.
To learn more about Huntington’s disease and the work of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, visit www.hdsa.org or call (800)345-HDSA.
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