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Danette and Brian McCroskey are hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp this October October 2024, all in the name of Huntington’s disease. Please read their story and support their climb with a donation below! Now, a word from Danette McCroskey:
Yes, the rumor is true. Brian and I are hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC). 80 miles round trip of hiking. We’ll be joined by HD friends from the UK.
For those who know us, thanks for supporting us and helping us to raise funds and awareness about HD. All funds raised go directly to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). We need a cure!
My family has been affected by HD. It is inherited; there is no cure. The odds of passing on this disease from parent to child is 50%. It’s described as having Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS all at once. My family has had both adult onset and juvenile onset. I am one of twelve children.
We’ve been impacted in ways I never could have imagined and it touches every aspect of our lives from relationships, finances, and full-time care at the disease progresses. To learn more about the symptoms visit hdsa.org/what-is-hd.
Around 1987 or ‘88 I was told my dad had HD. I truly did not know the full impact until several years later. In 1993, a genetics test was available to test for HD. HD was rarely spoken of and I had no contact with my dad due to a fractured relationship with him. I went on with my life, got married, started my family, and had two beautiful, boys. In 1997, I started researching about HD. That’s when I learned that I was at risk.
I remember reading the signs and symptoms and thinking “oh my God.” I recalled strange foot movements, and forgetting things. All I could think is what if I passed this along to my kids. It was heart breaking.
It took a few months to get the courage to get myself tested. I had the genetic counseling done. I told no one. Once they drew my blood I knew there was no turning back. It took an agonizing month and a half to get my results. They tell you to bring someone with you because the results can be life changing. Well, me being me, my independent self went alone.
I remember the day so well. It was cold, windy, rainy day. At check in they asked if I had anyone with me. No. They advised I call someone; I declined. “No, I got this.” After what felt like hours, the medical team entered. They had the results. Negative.
A wave of emotions came over me. I took a very deep breath and went okay. My relief of the negative result let to survivor’s guilt, which I received counseling for. I left the clinic, stood in the rain for an hour and cried tears of reflief that I would not pass this on to my kids. That was the first time I cried about all of this.
Once I got home, man did I hug my kids. I thanked God that would not watch HD take me nor would they have to wrestle the the results of an HD genetics test themselves. And you know what, within about a week my weird foot movements stopped all together.
That HD diagnostic chapter closed for me but the next chapters opened for many of my family members in the years to come. I’ve lost many to HD from immediate to extended family. Climbing EBC for THEM and their memory in the battle against HD.
To all of the families out there, and to my family: you are not alone. We hear you. We see you. And you are loved.
If you would like to receive updates on my training and preparations for the climb please email me at badfootme@gmail.com. I’ll be sharing more HD stories over the next few months and my journey of training to do this 80 mile hike in one of the highest places in the world.
I’ve always said if I could scream from the mountain top to get attention on HD I would. Promise made, promised kept. I am asking all of you to share this. Let’s have fun raising awareness and funds for a cure for HD.
We are starting out at $5000.00 but man do I want to triple this. Every dollar counts.
Thank you Ohana. Family is Everything.
Sincerely, Brian and Danette McCroskey, Team Find a Cure for HD!
Yes, the rumor is true. Brian and I are hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC). 80 miles round trip of hiking. We’ll be joined by HD friends from the UK.
For those who know us, thanks for supporting us and helping us to raise funds and awareness about HD. All funds raised go directly to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). We need a cure!
My family has been affected by HD. It is inherited; there is no cure. The odds of passing on this disease from parent to child is 50%. It’s described as having Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS all at once. My family has had both adult onset and juvenile onset. I am one of twelve children.
We’ve been impacted in ways I never could have imagined and it touches every aspect of our lives from relationships, finances, and full-time care at the disease progresses. To learn more about the symptoms visit hdsa.org/what-is-hd.
Around 1987 or ‘88 I was told my dad had HD. I truly did not know the full impact until several years later. In 1993, a genetics test was available to test for HD. HD was rarely spoken of and I had no contact with my dad due to a fractured relationship with him. I went on with my life, got married, started my family, and had two beautiful, boys. In 1997, I started researching about HD. That’s when I learned that I was at risk.
I remember reading the signs and symptoms and thinking “oh my God.” I recalled strange foot movements, and forgetting things. All I could think is what if I passed this along to my kids. It was heart breaking.
It took a few months to get the courage to get myself tested. I had the genetic counseling done. I told no one. Once they drew my blood I knew there was no turning back. It took an agonizing month and a half to get my results. They tell you to bring someone with you because the results can be life changing. Well, me being me, my independent self went alone.
I remember the day so well. It was cold, windy, rainy day. At check in they asked if I had anyone with me. No. They advised I call someone; I declined. “No, I got this.” After what felt like hours, the medical team entered. They had the results. Negative.
A wave of emotions came over me. I took a very deep breath and went okay. My relief of the negative result let to survivor’s guilt, which I received counseling for. I left the clinic, stood in the rain for an hour and cried tears of reflief that I would not pass this on to my kids. That was the first time I cried about all of this.
Once I got home, man did I hug my kids. I thanked God that would not watch HD take me nor would they have to wrestle the the results of an HD genetics test themselves. And you know what, within about a week my weird foot movements stopped all together.
That HD diagnostic chapter closed for me but the next chapters opened for many of my family members in the years to come. I’ve lost many to HD from immediate to extended family. Climbing EBC for THEM and their memory in the battle against HD.
To all of the families out there, and to my family: you are not alone. We hear you. We see you. And you are loved.
If you would like to receive updates on my training and preparations for the climb please email me at badfootme@gmail.com. I’ll be sharing more HD stories over the next few months and my journey of training to do this 80 mile hike in one of the highest places in the world.
I’ve always said if I could scream from the mountain top to get attention on HD I would. Promise made, promised kept. I am asking all of you to share this. Let’s have fun raising awareness and funds for a cure for HD.
We are starting out at $5000.00 but man do I want to triple this. Every dollar counts.
Thank you Ohana. Family is Everything.
Sincerely, Brian and Danette McCroskey, Team Find a Cure for HD!