Date: Sunday, October 6
Location: Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza at California State University Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311
Schedule of Events:
- 9:00am: Onsite Check-in and Registration
- 10:00am: Remembrance Ceremony
- 10:30am: Leisure Walk across the CSUB Campus
- 11:30am: BBQ Lunch and Give-a-ways*
*Must be present to win.
*Event is on rain or shine*
Captains: Lavonne C. Hall and Mark Corum - bakersfieldstrides@outlook.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Strides4CJDBakersfield
Now in its seventh year, Strides for CJD – Bakersfield has been selected as the CJD Foundation's regional event for central and southern California families who would like to walk in memory of a loved one affected by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. While this disease affects one in a million, you are not alone! Coming together with others who are going or have gone through the progression of the disease with a friend or family member can bring comfort, togetherness, and healing.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is caused by "prions," proteins that misfold in the brain, with devastating effects, including rapid mental and physical deterioration. Prion diseases are invariably fatal. This rare neurodegenerative disease currently has no treatment or cure.
Since 2018, Strides for CJD - Bakersfield has raised over $451,000.00 with proceeds benefitting medical research of CJD and prion disease; as well as the programs of the CJD Foundation. Team Big H in Memory of Harvey L. Hall has achieved the Strides for CJD Top Fundraising Team in the United States for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023!
Strides for CJD – Bakersfield takes place at the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza at California State University Bakersfield, centrally located just two hours north of Los Angeles and two hours south of Fresno. Mr. Hall, an EMS pioneer who also served as the city's 25th mayor, lost his battle to the sporadic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in May 2018, just two weeks and seven hours following diagnosis.
The Bakersfield event is one of approximately two dozen held in cities across the United States. Funds raised through Strides for CJD have positively impacted the CJD Foundation's ability to provide and support the following programs.
This includes:
Helpline and Support Groups: Helping families navigate their first days or weeks of diagnosis and caregiving.
Medical Education: Connecting with medical education departments of hospitals around the US to offer medical lectures from CJD experts about diagnosis, caregiving, and other vital information.
Advocacy: One of the best ways to help advance prion disease research is to ensure that legislators are educated about prion disease/CJD, its impact on patient families, and what's needed to study the disease and move towards a cure. The CJD Foundation has been working harder than ever to amplify the voices of patients and caregivers in Washington, DC, and to advocate for increased funding for CJD surveillance and research.
Research Grants: To date, the CJD Foundation has awarded 85 grants, totaling nearly $5 million, to help support scientists who study prion disease. The CJD Foundation has also awarded one-year fellowships to 3 early-career scientists. This is an important way to attract younger scientists to the prion disease field under the direction of CJD experts.
Scientific Conference: For the first time this year, the CJD Foundation will be hosting a conference for scientists focused on the synergies between Prion Diseases and Alzheimer’s/Alzheimer’s Related Dementias. Leading scientists in both fields and representatives from the NIH will speak about how to collaborate and move forward together, better-utilizing prion disease as a model for the broader field.