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Press release - for immediate release

Whitby, Ontario to host 3rd “The Walk to Fight Familial Ataxias” (FA)  on September 24, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Heydenshore Park, 589 Water Street.  Richmond, BC to host 1st “The Walk to Fight Familial Ataxia”, Berry Point Park. Participants in attendance, will be including about 200 participants from Ontario, BC, USA,Quebec, and the UK. The goal of the Walk is to raise funds for research on FA and to raise public awareness to FA in Canada.
Ataxia is defined as the progressive degeneration of an individual’s neurological system. Ataxia affects walking, speech, muscle control and weakness, often resulting the individual being confined to a wheelchair. Currently there are no treatments or cures for many forms of ataxia. However some drugs intended to counteract the effects of this disease are presently on trial.

Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky from McMaster University Medical Centre or Dr. Teesta Soman from Toronto Sick Kids Hospital kindly agreed to give a personal  interview and answer questions about FA

Contact: Jason Mills
Phone: 905-436-3609
eMail: mills.j@rogers.com

David and I are identical twins and shared many traits when growing up. We love to laugh and share good times with our friends and families.
When we were 18 my mother took us to see a neurologist because of our increasing clumsiness. He made a clinical diagnose that we had FA and sent us for a battery of tests with a variety of specialists. Little was known about FA and it was suggested that life expectancy for us would only be 5 to 10 years. That was 23 years ago. A few years ago I had a DNA test done which confirmed Friedreich's Ataxia.
My younger brother, Joshua, does not have FA but is committed to helping find a cure for this disease.
A few months ago Joshua approached me suggesting that we should organize and host a fundraiser to help with the exorbitant research costs of FA. We were put in touch with Jean Phenix of CAFA who was able to help us plan and organize this event. He was able to secure our first corporate donor which indeed kept us motivated.
At this point we are looking towards a final resolution to FA and to prevent other families from going though the same pain that we have.

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