While the rest of the world was locking down in early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nancy Sweely, a Brownton resident, was watching her sister-in-law Brenda’s slow progression of CJD, a rare neurodegenerative disease that has no treatment or cure.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a “prion” disease, is caused by misfolded proteins in the brain, called prions. The incidence of CJD is approximately one and half to two people per million per population per year. In the United States this translates to approximately 550- 600 new cases per year.
Like most people, Nancy had never heard of CJD before Brenda’s diagnosis and spent time researching using The CJD Foundation to find answers. She came across a video with other families who were affected said “somebody has do something, that somebody is me.”
That year, Nancy founded the Strides for CJD Brownton event. Each year the event features a pancake breakfast, silent auction, memorial table and fall festival activities—including games and arts and crafts projects for kids.
All community members are invited to take up the fight against CJD by registering, starting a team and fundraising. Funds raised will benefit the CJD Foundation to provide family support, medical education and research programs.
“I am so grateful for all of the support myself and my brother’s family receive,” said Nancy.