The annual Team Hope Walk in Flowood will take place on May 18, raising money to find effective treatments to slow the onset of Huntington’s disease.
Heather Wilmoth, whose husband Nathan suffer from the disease that decays brain cells, encourages everyone in central Mississippi to come out as it’s events like this that provide hope for her and her family and others suffering from Huntington’s.
“For those who aren’t familiar with Huntington’s disease, it’s a neurodegenerative terminal disease that’s like having ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s all rolled into one,” Wilmoth said on The Gallo Show. “This is our way of raising money to support centers of excellence, which we have one right here in Mississippi at UMMC. It helps the nationwide network of social workers and support groups and helps provide free online support groups and programs.”
Currently, there are around 200 people in Mississippi suffering from Huntington’s disease, which may not sound like a lot. But Wilmoth assures the impact of the disease is much bigger than that number.
“When you stop and think about how many people are in a family, how many people are affected, because even though Nathan has the disease, it’s a family disease,” Wilmoth said. “I am taking care of my husband. I have to feed him. I have to dress him. My nine-year-old has helped me feed him, has helped me dress him, has helped me bathe him. So, it affects everybody in the family.”
Wilmoth added that they still need walkers, volunteers, sponsors, and donations. All that information can be found here. The 2024 Team Hope Walk will be held at the Flowood Nature Park on May 18 at 9 a.m.
