Today, we’re excited to share some updates about the Help for HD Family Relief Fund and the amazing strides we've made over the years. When we first started, our main goal was to provide relief to those in need. Then, just a year later, we added holiday programs and even launched a disaster fund. A couple of years back, we included a genetic testing fund to help families cover the costs of genetic testing they couldn’t fully afford.
This year, we’ve launched a brand-new initiative focused on care homes that support families affected by Huntington's disease. Aperion Summerfield is a special care facility that exclusively cares for patients impacted by HD. Last year, when Help 4 HD visited Summerfield, we discovered they needed a van to help their residents enjoy more adventures. Their motto is clear: just because someone is affected by HD doesn’t mean they should stop exploring and making memories! When a community member reached out with a fundraising idea to help Summerfield purchase a new van, we jumped right in! We started fundraising under the Help 4 HD Relief Fund, ensuring that all the money raised will go directly towards this van, creating wonderful experiences for everyone at Summerfield. We’re proud to share some numbers related to our relief efforts this year!
Our fund has helped individuals with electricity bills, essential quality of life needs, and more. So far, we’ve spent $29,287 on holiday programs and relief efforts. The van for Aperion Summerfield costs $42,443, and we’ve also provided $41,775 for genetic testing. In total, the Help for HD Family Relief Fund has contributed a fantastic $113,505 in 2024!
Managing these funds is definitely a labor of love—it’s not always easy! We take great care to vet our applicants and really understand their situations. For most relief efforts, at least three board members need to approve the applications, while for the holiday program, we can get things moving a bit quicker.
This year, Katrina and I happily handed over the reins to Jamie Holloway, who has done an incredible job managing everything!
We want to take a moment to thank some wonderful supporters. A huge shoutout to Neurocrine Biosciences for their ongoing support, and to the Griffin Foundation for their generous contributions. We’re also super grateful for Angels from the Abbey and their help with both relief and our genetic testing fund. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Jennings family and the Miller family, along with Tina, who organized the Celebrating D event, donating all proceeds to relief efforts. We’d also like to express our appreciation to Tracy Hendricks for her generous donation towards the van and for getting her company to match her contribution! Big thanks to her best friend Misty and her cousin for organizing a “Give Butter” fundraiser for the van, too. Most importantly, let’s give some love to Tracy for making this all happen! We also want to highlight Sharon Thomason for her vital role in creating our toy program in memory of her husband, Paul. Thank you to Wave Life Sciences for your contributions during the holiday season, and a big thank you to all our wonderful Facebook donors! Every single contribution, whether through Facebook or directly through our website for relief and genetic testing, matters so much to us. The total amount of $113,505 showcases your amazing generosity. We’re committed to giving back to our community, and we truly appreciate everyone’s support, helping us make this important project possible yet again in 2024. Thanks for being a part of our journey!
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