Walk, run and dine to benefit Matt Dudgeon Memorial Fund
Chester The 6th annual Matthew Dudgeon Memorial Walk and 7K Run will be followed by a dinner dance on Saturday, May 13. Pre-registration is required by Sunday, April 30. The walk and run will be held at the Chester Train Station. Registration will begin for the walk at 7:45 a.m. and the run at 8:30 a.m., while the walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the run at 9:30 a.m. The fee for the walk is $15 for adults and $5 for children; the fee for the run is $17 for adults and $7 for children. The dinner dance, for adults only, will be held at 7 p.m. at Brookside Manor in Middletown. Tickets are $75 per person or $150 per couple, which includes an open bar, dinner, and music by the Chris Turpin Band. Matthew’s Story To honor the memory of their son Matthew, Gina and James Dudgeon established the Matthew Dudgeon Memorial Fund - to raise money for and increase awareness of a group of rare neuro-degenerative diseases. Matthew was seemingly normal until 16 months of age, when he was diagnosed with Leigh’s Disease. The rare mitochondrial disease is an inherited neuro-metabolic that disorder results in rapid, progressive degeneration of the central nervous system, similar to muscular dystrophy. Currently, diagnostic testing and treatment options are limited, prognosis is poor, and there is no known cure. Fifty percent of children diagnosed with Leigh’s disease don’t live past their third birthday. On May 12, 2000, after an 11 month battle, Matthew lost his fight with this terrible illness. He was 27 months old. Matthew’s parents established the memorial fund to raise funds to benefit all mitochondrial-related diseases that effect both adults and children. A portion of the money raised will be donated to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. The rest will be dispensed to local families caring for terminally or chronically ill children. The Dudgeon family - Gina, James, Brian, and Stephanie - with the help of family and friends, have organized the yearly memorial walk.