Liz Fedrick, Charly Honey, Sarah Jane Dawe and a team of volunteers organised a ‘black and white’ dress function at Saltash Social Club in aid of the research taking place at the University of Plymouth.
May marks Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month, and more than 180 people raised £2,800 at the event. The sum was match funded by Santander to reach £5,300 and will support the work led by Dr Shouqing Luo, Associate Professor in Clinical Neurobiology in the University’s Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed).
Liz and a dedicated team of volunteers have supported the University’s research into the condition for several years after close friends were diagnosed.
Liz said: “It was truly an amazing evening and the most we have raised in just one night, I believe. From kind donations of raffle and silent auction prizes to money given by lots of dedicated locals, including a lady who knits and sells tea cosies at a local tea shop, we’re so grateful for everyone’s support.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to the team from Santander too, who came along on the night to sell raffle tickets and also match funded us to reach an even higher total. It was a great event and we’re looking forward to our next event in Plymstock.”
Huntington’s disease is an hereditary disorder of the nervous system caused by a faulty gene on chromosome four. The faulty gene leads to nerve damage in the area of the brain resulting in gradual physical, mental and emotional changes. Those born to a parent with Huntington’s disease have a 50:50 chance of developing it, and there is currently no cure.
D Luo and his team are currently working with international collaborators to find potential effective therapies for the condition, and he said: “Once again our local friends have run a superb fundraising event to help our research, and we are immensely grateful to them for their efforts. Thanks to the vital help and support of the local community, we are able to continue our work and hopefully find a treatment for this devastating neurological disease much sooner.”
Emily Champion, Branch Manager for Santander’s University Branch, said: “We were delighted to arrange for members of our team to support with fundraising for this wonderful charity. The amount the Santander staff raised on the night through the sales of raffles will be matched by the Santander Foundation, bringing the total amount raised to a fantastic £5,300.”
