Huntington's Disease Research And Bay Area Man Hope To Find Cure For Huntington's Disease

Main Category: Huntingtons Disease
Article Date: 09 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Kevin Harrington, a Bay Area native suffering from the effects of Huntington's Disease, may have lost his mother, grandfather, great-grandfather and a great uncle to this tragic disease but he refuses to lose hope for a cure. So he organized the 2008 Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Invitational "Swinging to Cure Huntington's Disease" golf tournament to be held at the Blackhawk Country Club on Monday, June 16th, 2008.

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited, progressively degenerative brain disorder affecting the individual's ability to think, speak and walk. Presently there is no cure but there is a predictive test to determine if you carry the gene for HD. Kevin chose to take that test ten years ago and received the unfortunate news. He began showing signs four years ago when he became very clumsy and started dropping things. As the disease progressed, he began experiencing the classic symptoms including involuntary movements, an unsteady gait and an intoxicated appearance. He continued to work up until last November when his short term memory became so foggy that he was forced to go on permanent disability leaving The Student Source of San Francisco, a company in which he was part owner and had worked for over the past 15 years.

"I saw how this disease affected my mother and grandfather so it's very difficult because I know what's ahead for me," said Kevin. "The hardest part is seeing your friends back away from you because your symptoms make them uncomfortable. They stop inviting you to events." Described as warm, gregarious and fun-loving, everyone close to Kevin mentions how unselfish he is never focusing on his own challenges but asking how they and their families are doing.

Even though he is now faced with losing his home in Dublin, his focus moves to finding a cure and providing hope to everyone else with HD and to their families. Having a family of his own with a son, Collin, age 9 and a daughter, Kendall, age 6, he knows first hand the magnitude this disease will have on them. He loves his children and doesn't want to be a burden to them. The law requires that they be 21 before taking the test to determine if they have the gene.

Proceeds from the golf tournament will benefit Huntington's Disease research and family programs at UCSF and UC Davis Center of Excellence Medical Centers. Registration includes lunch, dinner, a cocktail reception and much more. To register or sponsor the golf tournament, please contact Bill Simpson at 242-4420 or cell 980-7397 or visit http://www.swinging2curehuntingtons.com.

Swinging to Cure Huntington's Disease