Welcome to our fundraising page. We are walking in the CJD Foundation's Strides for CJD event to honor a remarkable man: Mark Blankenship—known affectionately as "Daddo" to his six beloved grandchildren.
Mark was 69 years old when he passed away in 2024. He was a man defined by his love for his family, including his wife, two daughters and their husbands, his grandchildren and his siblings and their families. He lived life to the fullest—golfing, hiking, and traveling. He was our ultimate supporter in our education and careers. Just a few years ago, he and our mom built a dream beach house so our entire family could gather every summer to build lifelong memories.
His battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) was terrifyingly swift. Shortly after a hiking trip in California, he noticed sudden difficulty writing followed by fatigue and weakness during routine yardwork. Within days, his symptoms escalated rapidly, leading to an ER visit and hospitalization. While waiting weeks for complex test results, his physical abilities vanished. His living room became a makeshift bedroom as he lost control of his body. The diagnosis of this rare prion disease was confirmed just before he passed away—less than 3.5 weeks after his very first symptom.
Our dad was a private man, but he was also a fierce advocate for causes he believed in. We know he would want us to share his story to bring urgent awareness to this brutal disease. To help future families and get closer to a cure, he selflessly donated his brain to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine for research.
Please join Miles for Mark (In Honor of Mark Blankenship) by donating or walking with us. Your support funds vital research, advocacy, and medical education so that one day, no other family has to experience this rapid loss. Thank you for keeping Daddo’s legacy alive.
Matthew May