A Ride With Matt
Posted by Tom Breen
on Jun 13, 2012
A Ride With Matt
On June 13th, we were honored to welcome Palmyra natives Aaron Austin and Annaliese Austin Parker to our weekly lunch meeting. Aaron and his sister were with us to talk about A Ride With Matt, a documentary being produced to raise awareness of Huntington’s Disease, a genetic brain disorder which affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive degeneration and dementia.
The Austin family has dealt with Huntington’s Disease for many years, over generations. Aaron and Annaliese talked about the struggle their father Earl had with the disease, and the worry he felt when he learned it was hereditary. The disease also claimed their uncle and their grandfather. Their brother Andy also had Huntington’s. In 1996, having struggled with the disease for some time, he ended the battle. He left behind an estranged wife and two young sons, Michael and Matthew.
Now 21 years old, Matt never knew his father, but he knows how Huntington’s afflicted him. He has been diagnosed with the disease. Before Huntington’s takes over, he is embarking on a journey with his uncle, Aaron and Annaliese’s brother Adam. Adam has worked in the film industry for many years, and is an avid cyclist. Adam and Matt will be bicycling from Palmyra to Massachusetts in June. In October, they will bike from San Francisco to Boulder, Colorado. Along the way, Adam will teach Matt about cycling, and about Andy, and his battle with Huntington’s.
The film will document the trek, capturing the moments as they happen, with Adam teaching Matt about Andy and his struggle with Huntington's. Along the way, Adam and Matt will talk with professionals at medical and research institutions, and visit with other families coping with the disease. As Matt put it, there are "too many sad stories - I want this to inspire people."
For more information, please visit www.aridewithmatt.com
On June 13th, we were honored to welcome Palmyra natives Aaron Austin and Annaliese Austin Parker to our weekly lunch meeting. Aaron and his sister were with us to talk about A Ride With Matt, a documentary being produced to raise awareness of Huntington’s Disease, a genetic brain disorder which affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive degeneration and dementia.
The Austin family has dealt with Huntington’s Disease for many years, over generations. Aaron and Annaliese talked about the struggle their father Earl had with the disease, and the worry he felt when he learned it was hereditary. The disease also claimed their uncle and their grandfather. Their brother Andy also had Huntington’s. In 1996, having struggled with the disease for some time, he ended the battle. He left behind an estranged wife and two young sons, Michael and Matthew.
Now 21 years old, Matt never knew his father, but he knows how Huntington’s afflicted him. He has been diagnosed with the disease. Before Huntington’s takes over, he is embarking on a journey with his uncle, Aaron and Annaliese’s brother Adam. Adam has worked in the film industry for many years, and is an avid cyclist. Adam and Matt will be bicycling from Palmyra to Massachusetts in June. In October, they will bike from San Francisco to Boulder, Colorado. Along the way, Adam will teach Matt about cycling, and about Andy, and his battle with Huntington’s.
The film will document the trek, capturing the moments as they happen, with Adam teaching Matt about Andy and his struggle with Huntington's. Along the way, Adam and Matt will talk with professionals at medical and research institutions, and visit with other families coping with the disease. As Matt put it, there are "too many sad stories - I want this to inspire people."
For more information, please visit www.aridewithmatt.com
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