Why I walk for CJD....Its now 27 years since my Dad, Charles Hildenbrand died from Cruetzfeldt jakob disease, aka CJD. My son jacob, was 8 years old and only knew his Grandpa a short time. My 3 nephews never got to meet him. Dad was 64 years old, retired 2 years and in the prime of his lifeand was gone 3 months from onset to death. Multiple Drs and hospital stays with misdiagnosis, ineffective mistreatments, the average pain a family goes thru as many Drs are not even aware of this dreadful disease. Dad was finally diagnosed with a brain biopsy and died 10 days later.

We have made progress...baby steps  but in the right direction.They now have a sterilization technique that is used on the equipment that is exposed to the infected tissue with the biopsy. 27 years ago the equipment needed to be properly disposed of and the nuerosurgeon did not even want to do a biopsy and expose his surgical team. They now have a less invasive biopsy that does not require the brain and skull to be penetrated. And as of this year, there is now a drug trial available for patients diagnosed wit CJD. (Currently no treatments available and is always fatal)

I walk to raise funds for the CJD Foundation to educate the medical community, support the families afflicted, advance the research and hopefuly in my lifetime there will be a  treatment, cure and preventive so no other families go thru what our family and so many others experience in losing their loved one. Allthe funds raised go directly to the CJD foundation. The walks are organized and supported by donations from the community and we as volunteers.

So please come and join us on October 5th! We will have refreshments, raffles, children activites, games and wonderful people! And if you cannot make it, any donation amount large or small is so greatly appreciated! 

Team Hildenbrand Halo thaks you from all our hearts,

Darlene 

To donate to our team, text STRIDES2024 TeamHildenbrandHalo to 50155. (there is a space between 4 and T) 

Donations of $250 and above are considered sponsorships.

Sponsorship Levels:

• Premier: $20,000
• Diamond: $10,000
• Platinum: $5,000
• Gold: $1,000
• Silver: $500
• Bronze: $250

Premier, Diamond, and Platinum Sponsors will have their name or logo displayed on participant t-shirts, the Strides for CJD website, and signage. Gold Sponsors will have their name or logo displayed on the Strides for CJD website, and will have their name (not their logo) listed on participant T-shirts and signage. Silver and Bronze Sponsors will have their name listed on the Strides for CJD website only.