Huntington's
Disease
Society of
America Inc.
158 West 29th Street
7th Floor
New York, NY 10001-5300
"It's not a
cure for Huntington's Disease,
but we're getting there."
-Dr. Robert
Freidlander, Brigham and Women's Hospital
and HDSA Coalition for the Cure Investigator
Dear Friend
One Year ago we launched GENERATION 2000, an 18-month campaign to raise significant new dollars for HDSA's programs of care and Cure. At the time we announced that our goal for the campaign was to raise $500,00 and our dream was to raise $2 million.
We are delighted to report to you that as of today we have raised $1,732,000! We have far exceeded our goal - making this the last generation of HD.
Because of the generosity of individuals like you, we have been able to dramatically increase HDSA's investment in research. This increased investment is starting to produce exciting results. In the July issue of Nature Medicine, a paper was published by a group of scientists, three of whom are funded by HDSA: Steven Hersch, M.D., Ph.D., Jang-Ho Cha, M.D., Ph.D., and Robert M. Freindlander, M.D. Dr. Freidlander and Dr. Hersch are members of HDSA's flagship research program, the Coalition for the Cure.
This article reported that scientists were able to slow the progression of Huntiongton's Disease in mice by administering the antibiotic minocycline. Dr. Freidlander expects that minocycline will eventually become part of a "cocktail" of several drugs used to treat HD.
Several other articles published recently also show promise in finding the answers to HD. These include a project that indicates that increases activity may slow the progression of HD; a report showing that mice with HD showed evidence of at least partial recovery of neurons; and a study showing promising results in slowing the progression of HD in Drosophola (fruit fly).
All of these studies point toward a new direction in HD research - a move from basic research designed to understand the disease to testing therapeutic interventions that might slow or halt the progression of the disease. As Dr Harry Orr, Chair of HDSA's Coalition for the cure Steering Committee notes: "This is an exciting time for investigating avenues for late-onset neurodegenerative diseases."
As we enter the final phase of the Generation 2000 Campaign, I ask that you reaffirm the goal of this campaign - to make this the last generation of HD. Generation 2000 has already proven to be the most successful campaign in the history of HDSA. Every dollar brings us closer to the day when no one will have to suffer from the ravages of this disease.
HDSA's Coalition for the Cure will meet this fall. Top scientists from all over the world will be in attendance to discuss the latest progress in HD research. They will also be waiting to hear what level of funding HDSA will provide them next year. I would like to announce that HDSA will be providing funding for the Coalition for the Cure in the amount of $2 million!
In order to do so, I need your help. I ask that you make whatever additional contribution you can to the Generation 2000 Campaign. Whether you can afford to give one dollar or one thousand dollars, your gift is vitally important. And remember, thanks to our special donors every dollar you give will be matched up to $1 million! If we can hit the $2 million mark on Generation 2000, I will be able to tell our scientists that we can provide them with $2 million in funding for the Coalition for the Cure. So, please give what ever you can.
Even if you cannot make a gift to the final phase of Generation 2000 Campaign, we invite you to join your voice with ours by submitting a message to be in the Generation 2000 Journal of Hope. The journal will be published in February 2001 and sent to all Generation 2000 Contributors. Your message of hope can be in remembrance of a deceased loved one, in tribute to a current loved one, or a message to the future generation.
Thank you for your continued support. I know I can count on you to help us make this the last generation of Huntington's Disease.
Sincerely,
Barbara T. Boyle
National Executive Director/CEO