Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a prion disease, is caused by misfolded proteins in the brain. There are three forms of CJD – sporadic, genetic, and acquired. Genetic CJD is the form of CJD where if one parent carries the mutation there is a 50-50 chance for each child to inherit the gene.
Unfortunately, CJD is genetic in my family, so for me, Strides for CJD is more than personal— it's racing to help fund research to find a cure. I have seen what genetic CJD has done to my grandfather, my uncle and two cousins. I never want to see anyone ever have to go through it again.
Whether the disease is sporadic or genetic the story is always the same, one day your loved one is fine the next day they exhibit a minor symptom like loss of balance, loss of memory or change in their gait, something small that could be associated with a thousand other things. The symptoms rapidly progress and the search for answers begins. By the time the diagnosis of CJD is confirmed your loved one is either gone or has weeks to live. CJD is rare and most people have no idea it even exists, so the shock of the diagnosis and the devastating news that there is no cure and no treatment and then having your loved one gone within weeks of their first symptom is numbing for the family leaving them grief stricken with many unanswered questions.
I fight to raise awareness of this horrific disease. I fight to support families caring for a patient with prion disease. I fight to make a difference in the battle against CJD. I fight to find a cure but I cannot do it alone, I need your help. Please consider making a small donation so that no family will ever go through the pain of losing a loved one to CJD.
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