Hello everyone,

My name is Roxy and this page has been set up in honour of my mother, Carmen Ureta-Matus, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 22nd, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

My mother was diagnosed on March 18th, 2025 at St. Michael's Hospital with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare, fatal and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease. Five weeks later, she was taken from us. In just over 2 months, I saw my mother go from being a joyful, vibrant and independent woman who loved to dance and socialize to someone whose cognitive decline made it impossible to recognize her loved ones. In a matter of weeks, she lost her ability to walk, talk and complete all the basic functions of daily life.

This disease affects 1-2 per million people every year. It can occur genetically, sporadically, or can be acquired. Doctors and scientists are actively researching ways to understand, prevent and treat CJD and other prion diseases.

As part of my mother's legacy to help her family and other families who may be affected by this horrific disease, we have donated brain tissue and her cerebral spinal fluid to CJD Medical Research but this is just a start.

In honour of her memory and everyone she touched with her kind and open heart, we ask that you donate to this page so that we may make a big contribution to CJD Research in her name. Every little bit helps. From our family to yours, we thank you.

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.