By Sherrie Norris
Registration is now open for the inaugural Tom Moore Memorial 5K Walk/Run which will be held Saturday, April 28. While it’s the actual 13th annual event in honor of Moore and his valiant efforts to fight Huntington’s Disease — and increase awareness of the debilitating condition — his death earlier this year changes it to a memorial event.
In their ongoing support of Moore and his labors, students from Appalachian State University’s recreation management and exercise science program, in collaboration with the department of health promotion for faculty and staff and Huntington’s Disease Society of America, will host this event beginning at 9 a.m. at Clawson-Burnley Park and the Greenway Trail in Boone.
Online registration is now open and accessible at www.hdsa.or/thwboone. Onsite registration will be taking place from 8-8:45 a.m. on the morning of the event. Early registration fee (on or before Wednesday, April 25) is $20; late registration fee is $25. A long-sleeve T-shirt is available to participants on a first come, first served basis. Participants’ finishing times will be available upon completion of the 5K.
Refreshments will be available during the event, as will the opportunity for all participants to register for a door prize. Winners must be present to claim their prize.
All proceeds, from the 5K run/walk will go toward research for treatments of Huntington’s disease as well as for the continued search for its cure.
More about Moore and Huntington’s
Huntington’s is described as an inherited, degenerative condition that breaks down the nerve cells in the brain, and slowly takes away a patient’s ability to remember, think, walk and function normally.
Having earlier claimed the lives of his father and brother, Huntington’s also eventually claimed Moore, but not before a lengthy battle from his diagnosis in February 2001 to his January 13, 2018 death at age 66.
Moore left his mark upon the High Country in numerous ways, in particular through his role as cofounder and longtime director of Resort Area Ministry, commonly known as RAM.
Moore was well known and loved among the communities he served.
During his 34 years leading the ministry, Moore left an indelible mark upon countless people and is remembered for his many contributions to making the High Country a better place in which to live and visit.
Those who knew him best remember Moore as a man whose life was dedicated to his faith, family and friends, and as one always ready and willing to help anyone in need.
App State’s Sherri Wilson worked closely with Moore for a dozen-plus years through the fundraising event, and in an earlier interview, described him as husband, father, friend, minister and mentor of the High Country; she also tried to help us better understand part of his plight.
“Imagine, for a moment,” Wilson said, “you lived with someone who experiences constant mood swings, depression, forgetfulness, involuntary movements and slurred speech, someone whose mental and physical abilities, during his or her prime years deteriorates, and there is no cure. How would you cope?”
The fundraising event, Wilson said, was Moore’s idea.
“As a Huntington’s patient, Tom wanted the public to better understand Huntington’s disease,” she explained. “He wanted the stigma of the debilitating condition to disappear. He participated in research studies to make a difference in the lives of families and friends who would be affected in the future.”
With his wife Jennifer and children by his side the entire way, Moore’s mission was to educate the community about Huntington’s disease. Since the Moore family connected with App State’s recreation management program 13 years ago, the Tom Moore 5K grew to be a successful educational, social and fundraising event for many, through which contributions of $50,000-plus have been given toward research and making a significant impact on the lives of patients with Huntington’s Disease.
The success of the fundraiser is only expected to continue to grow in Moore’s memory.
Through Tom, his family, and the support garnered throughout local and regional communities, effective strides have been (and continue to be) made, Wilson added. “Researchers, scientists and biologists worldwide have joined forces to seek effective treatments. Although there is no cure for Huntington’s, HDSA is committed to continuing its research initiatives, in hopes of finding one.”
For more information, or to register for this year’s event, go to www.hdsa.org/thwboone.
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