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Ninth Annual Tom Moore 5K Run/Walk for Huntington’s Disease Awareness Held on Saturday, April 12 in Boone

By Rachel Emily Auton

April 9, 2014. High country runners and walkers will make moves towards finding a cure for Huntington’s Disease this Saturday, April 12, at the ninth annual Tom Moore 5K Run/Walk on the Greenway Trail in Boone. 

The annual event serves as a fundraiser for Huntington’s Disease Society of America, donating all proceeds to the search for an effective treatment for the inherited degenerative condition. 

imgres“Huntington’s is a genetic brain disorder that affects a person’s cognitive motor skills and behavioral skills,” said Sherri Wilson, event coordinator. 

“It’s passed on from generation to generation with a 50/50 chance of inheriting it if one of your parents has it.”

Tom Moore, co-founder and former director of Resort Area Ministry and RAM’s Rack Thrift Shop, was diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago. Both his father and brother suffered from the disease. 

“Tom’s goal with this event is to get the word out and promote awareness and to find an effective treatment and cure,” said Wilson. 

“There are only medications to treat certain symptoms, there is no cure.”

Moore and his family are partnering with Appalachian State University Recreation Management students to organize and execute the event. 

“It’s a two-fold event,” said Wilson. 

“It’s educational, the rec management students are learning the concept of programming and planning from start to finish and then Tom gets to increase awareness to find a cure.”

The race will begin at 9 a.m. with registration from 8-8:45 a.m at Clawson-Burnley Park, the course’s start and end point. 

“We’ll have door prizes around 10 a.m. and we’ll have a D.J. on site to play music and some trivia questions throughout the day while participants are finishing up,” said Wilson.

Door prizes will include gift cards from local business like Red Onion, Boone Bike and Touring, Chili’s, Applebees, Dos Amigos, Woodlands and more. 

F.A.R.M Cafe, one of the race’s corporate sponsors, will host a pre-race “pay as you can” pasta dinner in support of the event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Packets for registered participants will be available for early pickup at the dinner. 

Unregistered participants can register online or at the F.A.R.M Cafe dinner for $20. Race day registration will be $25. Each participant will receive a long sleeve shirt while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For more information, click here or call 828-262-6314.