HD Blog

The Hunt-Dis Convention Scholarship Fund was established by the members of Hunt-Dis in 1999 to help those members who, due to financial hardships, are unable to attend a Huntington's Disease Society of America's
(HDSA) national convention.

The experience of attending a HDSA National Convention is invaluable to any family living with Huntington's Disease. It is at a national convention where they can hear, firsthand, the latest in research directly from all of the wonderful scientists and researchers who attend the convention.

The sessions are designed to help everyone from the caregiver, to those at-risk, to the person with Huntington's Disease and to our young adults and children living with HD, who have it or are at-risk for it.

Lastly, the comradeship and lasting friendships that everyone will make at a national convention is so heart-warming it just cannot be experienced to the same degree on line. It is, truly, a very rewarding experience for anyone who is able to attend.

For complete details, visit http://clix.to/HDSFwebsite.

A little more history. This is the 4th year of the HDSF (recently renamed the Lou Wilkinson HD Scholarship Fund). Last Year the HDSF committee decided to reach out to others in the HD family who may need help, and the scholarship was opened up to include the other online support groups...HD Caregivers, National Youth Alliance, JHD Caregivers, and Huntington's At Risk group, (before last year a person had to be a member of Hunt-Dis to apply). Our very first winner was for the convention in San Diego, but unfortunately, the winner was unable to attend at the last minute, and the funds were rolled over to the following year.

Each year the number of scholarships (full or partial) we have been able to award has increased. San Diego---1 full scholarship, Columbus---1 full scholarship, and 2 partials, and helped a 3rd person get a full scholarship from her local chapter, Houston---1 full scholarship and 3 partials (which actually ended up being almost full scholarships).

The Scholarship is available online http://endoflifecare.tripod.com/huntdisscholarshipfund/id29.html The deadline for submitting an application is Mon. March 15.

Completed applications should be sent to Jean Miller: jemiller at tampabay dot rr dot com

The money used to award scholarships is received through donations and/or purchase of items available on the HDSF Website. www.clix.to/hdsfwebsite

The HDSF committee are all volunteers who are dedicated to helping as many people as possible be able to attend the National Convention.

At this time the fund has about $400 less than it did last year. So far there are 5 applications for scholarships that I am aware of. The committee members work every angle conceivable to try and award every applicant at lest a partial scholarship so that we do not have to turn anyone down.

Two years ago, committee members imitated a PIE IN THE FACE *contest*. Committee members agreed that one or more would be willing to *take* a pie in the face for receiving the most votes. How do we receive votes? Through donations and purchase of items on the website. For each dollar donated or spent you get one vote. All you do is say which committee member you want to receive your votes. You can *vote* for just one committee member or divide your votes up between committee members. For the last 2 years it seems that Dave Hodgson, Jean Miller and I have been the most *popular*. And so far this year, yours truly holds the lead once again. But hey...I LOVE pies:):)

If you would like to help this very worthwhile cause, you can make a donation by sending a check made out to HDSF to: HDSF c/o Dave Hodgson 1526 Applegate Drive Naperville, Il 60565

I would encourage everyone to take a look at the HDSF website to see what is available there. Remember...every little bit helps!!!