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Catherine O'Leary
Dublin City Marathon for Huntington's Association!
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Dublin City Marathon for Huntington's Association!

Catherine O'Leary
Fundraising For Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI)
Latest Update !!

I'm doing KBC Dublin Marathon to fundraise for Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI). Your support is very much appreciated.

€ 1,202.00 Target : € 200.00

601%

DONATIONS AVAILABLE UNTIL
27 Nov 2019

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Dublin City Marathon for Huntington's Association!

Catherine O'Leary
Fundraising For Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI)
Latest Update !!

I'm doing KBC Dublin Marathon to fundraise for Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI). Your support is very much appreciated.

Event Details

Huntington’s disease is Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a rare, progressive neurological condition that affects a person’s physical abilities, emotions and cognitive skills. HD starts with subtle changes in the way a person moves, thinks and feels. Over time, motor changes progress to include poor balance, jerky movements, and a loss of motor control, difficulties maintaining weight, speaking and swallowing. Cognitive changes include difficulty understanding and retaining information, reduced concentration and decision-making skills, and mood changes such as depression, anxiety and compulsive thoughts. Symptoms of HD can begin at any age but usually first appear relatively early in life, between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

Unlike other neurological conditions you may know, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Motor Neuron Disease (MND), HD is made all the more difficult for families as each child of a parent with the HD gene has a 50% chance of developing the condition. A HD diagnosis is therefore very distressing for the entire family: the person diagnosed; their spouse/ partner; siblings and children at risk.

Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI) is a voluntary organisation which provides support, information and advocacy for individuals and families living with Huntington’s disease. HDAI also aims to raise awareness and understanding of HD with health and social care professionals. Services include a national support helpline (1800 393939); a family support officer, counselling; regional support groups, carers workshops and information seminars; an annual respite weekend, and spreading of HD related information through newsletters, social media and an annual magazine.  

Huntington’s disease has touched a family which is very dear to me, and I’ve wanted to do something to raise awareness and funds for the HDAI for while now. The original plan to fundraise while completing Dublin City Marathon 2018 fell by the wayside when I pulled out due to a pesky hip injury, but this year, a few weeks out from the Marathon, I’m confident of making it to the start line.

What I am less confident about is the 42km which will follow! Having raced up to half-marathon distance many times, the marathon distance is a new challenge and unknown territory.  Training has been mixed. There have been 'good' runs and ‘bad’ runs, long runs and ‘I think I’ll leave it there for today’ runs, ‘gone to plan’ runs and ‘my hip needs a bit of a break’ runs, happy ‘runner’s high’ runs and ‘do I really have to get out of bed’ Sunday morning runs. When the going gets tough, somewhere on the South side of Dublin on the 27th October, perhaps knowing some people have put money on the line for a good cause will see me through.

Thanks for taking the time to read and to consider donating. More information about Huntington’s disease and the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland is available here: www.huntingtons.ie Even if you’re not in a position to donate, it would be great if you could have a look at the website!

Catherine O'Leary
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