This silent auction is in support of the Huntington Society of Canada Southern Alberta Chapter as part of our Huntington Heroes National Virtual Walk, organized by the Hope for a Cure Run & Walk Committee. All money raised will be donated directly to the Huntington Society of Canada Southern Alberta Chapter to support all the wonderful things they do.

Huntington disease (HD) is a hereditary, neurodegenerative illness with physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. Huntington disease is caused by a mutation in the gene that makes the protein called huntingtin. In people with HD, the CAG sequence is repeated too many times at the beginning of the gene. That causes cells to manufacture a harmful protein called mutant huntingtin. The mutant huntingtin protein causes certain parts of the brain to die – specifically the caudate, the putamen and, as the disease progresses, the cerebral cortex. As the brain cells die, symptoms will appear in each of the three components (physical, cognitive and emotional).

Founded by (the late) Ralph and Ariel Walker in 1973 the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is a not-for-profit charitable organization which is governed by a volunteer board of directors. HSC is self-funded and dedicates those funds to family services and research efforts. HSC raises funds with the following objectives: Maximize the quality of life of people living with HD by delivering services to individuals and families, and by providing education to healthcare professionals. Advance medical research to slow progression of the disease and to prevent HD, and enable others to better understand the disease.