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Huntington's disease is very close to my heart. Having lost my father and 2 brothers I now feel I want to help awareness and raise funds for research and also to help other families that are going through this terrible illness.

Huntington's disease is an inherited disease of the brain that damages certain brain cells.
The disease damages some of the nerve cells in the brain, causing deterioration and gradual loss of function of these areas of the brain. This can affect movement, cognition (perception, awareness, thinking, judgement) and behaviour. Early symptoms can include personality changes, mood swings and unusual behaviour, although these are often overlooked and attributed to something else.

There is no cure for Huntington's disease and its progress cannot be reversed or slowed down. As the condition progresses, it may put a strain on family and relationships. Treatments for Huntington's disease aim to help improve or maintain skills used in daily living that can deteriorate over time. Medication can manage some of the symptoms, such as irritability or excessive movement.

Generally, the disease progresses and gets worse for around 10 to 20 years, until the person eventually dies. In the later stages of Huntington's disease, the person will be totally dependent and will need full nursing care.

It’s truly heart breaking to watch loved ones slowly die in a cruel and undignified manor. My aim is to raise awareness and money to go towards research and help for families affected.

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