Terry Leach

You can help stop Huntington’s disease by pledging your support and cheering for 21 San Diego-area runners as they race for a cure in the annual Carlsbad Half Marathon on January 24, 2010.

HDSA-San Diego’s Team to Cure HD is collecting pledges to provide hope for people like 12-year-old Terry Leach, a victim of juvenile Huntington’s disease.

In recognition for his extraordinary and inspiring perseverance against HD, Terry has been designated as one of seven official Heroes of the Marathon. Click here to read about Terry’s brave fight.

HDSA-San Diego has also been named one of the Official Charities of the Marathon.

Make a pledge to your favorite runner or simply make a general race donation to HDSA-San Diego by clicking here.

The half-marathoners are: Esmeralda Angulo, Kristen Bentz, Ali Black, Amanda Bowen, Andrew Butterworth, Flora Calem, Sally Cravens, Patrick Jaxsen, Rene Kerins, Dale Larson, Angela Marasovich, Misty Oto, Marci Paulissen, Alla Poberesky, Adrienne Rebollo, Regina Serbin, Ashley Shaw, Jennifer Shih, Mary Spring, Stefan Tietert, and Carrie Tognazzini's.

The top ten fundraisers from Team to Cure HD will receive a pair of tickets to Sea World San Diego.

These runners also need your support on race day. HDSA-San Diego needs volunteers to cheer them on and help keep traffic away from the race course, where 8,000 runners are expected to pass beginning at 7:30 a.m.

All officially registered volunteers will receive a free individual ticket to Disneyland in Anaheim! First, register with HDSA-San Diego as a volunteer by clicking here. Then, beginning January 1, 2010, also register at the Disneyland “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” volunteer site by clicking here.

Terry Leach and HDSA-San Diego will be recognized at a pre-race reception on January 22 from 6-8 p.m. at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa. HDSA-San Diego members will be manning an information booth and answering questions about the disease and the organization’s efforts to provide care for affected individuals and funds for research towards treatments and a cure.

For details on the Carlsbad Half Marathon, click here.