I'm participating in Strides for CJD - a 5k walk/run to raise awareness of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare, degenerative fatal brain disease affecting about one in a million people each year. Currently, there is no cure or effective treatment.

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My mom, Patricia Halliday, began displaying symptoms in July of 2018 and her health continued to decline until she was finally diagnosed on January 25, 2019. We were told she has the "sporadic" type (sCJD) which accounts for about 85% of the cases seen and occurs for no known reason. In the early stages of the disease, people may have failing memory, behavioral changes, lack of coordination, and visual disturbances.  As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes pronounced and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities, and coma may occur. It runs an extremely rapid course and has been absolutely devastating. 

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Through this event, anyone -- anywhere -- can pay tribute to their loved ones and raise funds for the CJD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to provide family support, medical education and research programs. It is my hope that no one ever has to experience this horrible disease or have a loved one suffer through it.