30th Annual Convention is a Huge Success for the Huntington's Disease Society of America

ALBANY, NY (07/09/2015)(readMedia)-- The Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) hosted its 30th Annual Convention at the Hyatt Regency at Reunion in Dallas, Texas on June 25-27.

More than 800 guests attended the world's largest Huntington's disease convention which included a Team Hope walk, Texas Hold'em Tournament, world-class workshops and Gala. In attendance werepeople with HD, family members and caregivers, volunteers, as well as world-renowned clinicians and scientists in the HD field. This year marked the 4th largest HDSA Convention in its history.

The Albany HDSA Affiliate received the 2015 HDSA Affiliate of the Year award as well as the Award for Outstanding Advocacy. They received these awards because of efforts of the Affiliate committee and the generous sponsors and participants of their educational and fundraising events. Together, they raised awareness of Huntington's disease to over 200 people, raised approximately $37,000 in 2014 and were instrumental in getting the New York State Governor to create a $5 million program to create centers of excellence for neurodegenerative diseases. Three grants were made to create new specialized nursing home beds.

The Affiliate will not rest on its laurels! Please join the Affiliate on August 29, 2015 for the Fishy Frolic, 10K and 5K races, a one mile walk, and a half mile kids fun run. The event will take place at Jennings Landing in Albany NY and will also include the music of Woody Sez, a moving theatrical concert event that uses Woody Guthrie's words, and over twenty-five of Woody's songs to transport the audience through the fascinating, beautiful, and sometimes tragic life of Woody Guthrie, a sufferer of Huntington's Disease. For more information, visit www.hdsa.org/albnywestma.

Huntington's disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene. Today, there are 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. Many describe the symptoms of HD as having ALS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's – simultaneously.

The Huntington's Disease Society of America is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington's disease. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world's leader in providing help for today, hope for tomorrow for people with Huntington's disease and their families.

HDSA was founded in 1968 by Marjorie Guthrie, the wife of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. Woody died from HD complications in 1967 when he was only 55 years old, but the Guthrie family legacy lives on at HDSA to this day.

To learn more about Huntington's disease and the work of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, visit www.hdsa.org or call (800)345-HDSA.