Hello, my name is Mariana!

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetic disease that progressively destroys a persons brain. For the past decade, I’ve watched my mom, and other members of my family fight this disease every single day.

Two years ago, the same week I graduated high school, I found out that I carry the HD gene too. That means that at some point in my life, I will develop symptoms. That knowledge is something that I carry with me every single day.

Growing up in a family affected by HD can feel incredibly isolating. For a long time, I felt like no one truly understood what I was going through.

That’s why the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization (HDYO) means so much to me.

HDYO gave me something I didn’t have before: a community. It connected me with other young people who understand what it’s like to grow up in a family affected by HD. Through HDYO, I found support, education, and people who truly get it. They provide resources, mental health support, and even scholarships to young people around the world so that no one has to face this disease alone.

HDYO is a big part of why I’m still here today, and I know I’m not the only one who can say that.

Because of how much HDYO has meant to me, I’m raising money to support their work so that more kids, teens, and young adults affected by HD can have access to the same support system that changed my life.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps make that possible. If you’re not able to donate, sharing this page would mean just as much.

This is more than just a fundraiser to me. It’s personal. It’s for my mom, for my family, for myself, and for every young person who feels alone in this.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting HDYO. It truly means more than I can put into words.