THE HISTORY
The Twin Cities Hoop-a-thon was founded 11 years ago by B.J. Viau of Apple Valley. Huntington's Disease has affected B.J. Viau's mother, his great-grandmother and grandfather, and he and his sister are also at risk. During the past 11 years the event has raised nearly $450,000 toward medical research for Huntington's Disease.

THE EVENT
Hoop-a-thon is a fun-filled free throw basketball event benefitting the Huntington's Disease Society of America. Basketball "shooters" stand a comfortable distance from the basket and shoot free throws for five minutes, trying to sink as many baskets as they can. Sponsors, signed up in advance, pledge a specific amount of money for every basket the sponsored shooter sinks. Flat pledges are also welcome with the participant shooting for fun and prizes.

If basketball is not your thing, don't worry. We have many activities that appeal to all ages including carnival games, face painting, prizes, refreshments and a silent auction that will keep you busy while you're at the event.

WHAT IS HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE?
Huntington's Disease is an inherited genetic disorder resulting in the slow and irreversible loss of both mental and physical capacity. There are 30,000 persons in the U.S. currently diagnosed with HD, and each of their siblings and children has a 50 percent chance of developing it. HD is a "family disease," not just because it is inherited from a parent, but because it profoundly affects the entire family emotionally, socially and financially. There are more than 790,000 people in the U.S. impacted by the disease. HD, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, takes a person away from their loved ones and the rest of the world long before they die.