Hi lovelies,
I had the pleasure of attending the annual Freeze HD event last year and I wanted to share with you all of you the inspiring story behind this year’s event. Please read and watch and read below to learn about how you can join the HDSA “family” in the fight against HD purchase tickets or sponsor the 5th Annual Freeze HD on September 28th.
Go to http://www.HDSA.org/FREEZEHD today to purchase tickets and make a difference!
“The 5th Annual Freeze HD event, honoring Kelsey and Scott Porter (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) will be held at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on Saturday September 28, 2019, benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). Among the many volunteers lending their time and efforts to raise $250,00 for HDSDA, the Freeze HD host committee includes stars Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more! Musical performances by Brian Logan Dales and The Dales Hotel, Katie Lowes & Adam Shapiro (Waitress) and Scott Porter.
Our first Freeze event was created by the talented Jason Ritter (Gravity Falls/Kevin (Probably) Saves the World) and Marianna Palka (GLOW) which featured a documentary that followed Marianna as she received genetic testing results for Huntington Disease. “
5th Annual Freeze HD To Host Star-Studded
Benefit for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America
Host Committee members Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more volunteer to raise much-needed funds and awareness for Huntington’s disease
Los Angeles, CA (July 26, 2019)- The 5th Annual Freeze HD event, honoring Kelsey and Scott Porter (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) will be held at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on Saturday September 28, 2019, benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). Among the many volunteers lending their time and efforts to raise $250,00 for HDSDA, the Freeze HD host committee includes stars Rachel McAdams, Scott Porter, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Bryce Dallas Howard, Simon Helberg, Marianna Palka and many more! Musical performances by Brian Logan Dales and The Dales Hotel, Katie Lowes & Adam Shapiro (Waitress) and Scott Porter.
Huntington’s disease (HD) 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. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes HD. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.
“Our involvement with Huntington’s is incredibly personal as it effects both Kelsey and her mother. After receiving the news that Kelsey's mother, Diane, was diagnosed with Huntington's, we also found out that Kelsey is gene positive and will develop it as well,” says Scott and Kelsey Porter, “We are determined to bring awareness to this disease and offer support to anyone who is affected by Huntington's. We are incredibly grateful to accept this honor from Freeze HD and cannot thank our friends and family enough for lending their voices and their support to this important and personal cause.”
Guests of the 5th annual event are invited to enjoy an evening of drinks, dancing, great music, celebrity guests, a fantastic silent & live auction and a few surprises! Our goal is to raise $250,000 for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. HDSA is the world’s premiere non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease.
ABOUT KELSEY AND SCOTT PORTER
A few days after Christmas in 2013, Kelsey and Scott Porter’s life changed forever. Kelsey’s parents, Ken and Diane Mayfield, sat the family down and shared with them that Diane had been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. After coming to grips with what that meant for Kelsey’s mom, they realized that Kelsey had a 50% chance of having it as well. In an instant, a disease they had never heard of before became a permanent part of their lives.
Kelsey and Scott had been married just 8 months at this point. They had always planned to start a family and knew this news would not change their minds. The first step was for Kelsey to get tested. In early 2014 they received word of her diagnosis. Gene positive. Huntington’s is in her DNA. At some point in Kelsey’s life, if there is no medical help, she will experience the effects of Huntington’s disease.
Undaunted, as Kelsey always is, she threw herself into figuring out how to have children that would be free of HD. She discovered PGD-IVF (Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis - In Vitro Fertilization), a process in which embryos are fertilized outside the human body and tested for specific genetic diseases before being implanted. Although an arduous process, the Porter’s children would not only be free of Huntington’s but this also meant HD could no longer be passed down by their children either. After the extensive testing, Huntington’s disease was eradicated from their family line going forward. The Porters now have two beautiful, healthy little ones, McCoy Lee and his little sister Clover Ash.
Despite the positive of having children free of HD, Huntington’s is still a force in the Porter’s family. Kelsey’s mother is currently living with the symptoms of Huntington’s, as Kelsey will eventually too. It has been discovered that Kelsey’s grandmother also had HD meaning many other aunts, uncles and cousins have a fifty percent chance of having inherited the gene themselves. Since her mother’s diagnosis there have been four other confirmed cases in her family and the “at risk” numbers are staggering. When we say that, “Huntington’s disease is a family disease”, it should not be taken lightly.
On Saturday, September 28, 2019 we will gather at Avalon Hollywood for drinks, dancing, great music, celebrity guests, a fantastic silent & live auction and a few surprises! Our goal is to raise $250,000 for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. HDSA is the world’s premiere non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s disease.
ABOUT HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
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. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes HD. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by HD. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with HD and their families.
HDSA was founded in 1967 by Marjorie Guthrie, the wife of legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie. Woody died from HD complications 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.
