ANAHEIM, CALIF. (May 6, 2010) St. Catherine’s Military Academy held its annual Jog-A-Thon on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the school’s campus in Anaheim. Now in its 11th year, the event supports the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). This year, the student body raised over $2,500, the largest amount in Jog-A-Thon history.
Coach Greg Jones (Class of 1976) began organizing the Jog-A-Thon when Chelsea, a close friend of the SCMA Family, was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia at age 5. Now 17, Chelsea struggles with the disease but remains cheerful and loving because of her strong sense of hope. Chelsea attended the Jog-A-Thon to meet cadets and watch the event.
In the weeks leading up to the Jog-A-Thon, students learned about Friedreich’s Ataxia in their classes, motivating them to run for this important cause. “There are no prizes or medals for SCMA Cadets in this venture, but a win for Chelsea and Friedrich’s Ataxia research,” says Jones. The entire student body, grades kindergarten through eighth, participated in the event. Sisters, teachers, alums, and parents also joined in to support FARA.
About Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA): FA is an aggressive neurodegenerative disease that debilitates people of all ages, robbing them of their ability to walk, see, speak and hear and cutting short their life expectancies. Currently, there is no cure or treatment for FA. Although rare, FA is the most prevalent inherited ataxia, affecting about one in every 50,000 people in the United States.
About Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA): FARA advances research for Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) and is dedicated to curing FA. Founded in 1998 by FA parents and patients, FARA is a nonprofit, 501c3, whose mission is directing and funding research through a remarkable level of collaboration among the patient, medical and scientific communities. FARA funded research is bringing promising treatments forward fueling confidence in the ability to slow, stop and reverse this disease for patients living with FA today. http://www.CureFA.org
View pictures of the Jog-A-Thon!