We had never heard of AOA1, until it changed a child’s life forever.

What starts as a few small falls turns into a disease that slowly takes away the ability to walk, speak, and live independently.

Today, we are asking for your help to give these children a chance at something more.

Our Story

We had never heard of AOA1.

Like most families, we didn’t know this disease existed, until it became part of our lives.

It doesn’t start with something dramatic.

It starts small.

A child who falls a little more than others.

A bit of clumsiness.

A slight loss of balance.

At first, it’s easy to brush it off as normal childhood development.

But then it doesn’t go away.

It gets worse.

Walking becomes harder.

Running turns into struggling.

Words become less clear.

Simple movements require effort.

And then comes the diagnosis.

AOA1 — a rare, genetic, neurodegenerative disease.

No cure.

Only progression.

Within a few years, many of these children will lose the ability to walk.

By around age 10, most will rely on a wheelchair.

Over time, they may lose the ability to move independently, to speak clearly, to do the things every child should be able to do freely.

Everything changes.

For the child.

For the parents.

For the entire family.

Daily life becomes about care, appointments, therapies, and adapting to a future no one ever imagined.

The emotional weight is heavy.

The financial burden is real.

And the uncertainty is constant.

Why this matters

There is no cure today.

But there are people working tirelessly to change that—researchers, doctors, and families who refuse to give up.

They need support.

They need awareness.

They need hope.

Why we are doing this

We chose to act.

To do something, even if it feels small compared to the size of the challenge.

To bring people together.

To raise awareness.

To support families who are facing something incredibly difficult.

Because no child should have to fight this alone.

How you can help

We are organizing a charity doubles tennis tournament to raise funds and awareness.

But you don’t need to play to make a difference.

Every donation:

Helps provide essential equipment

Supports therapies that improve quality of life

Contributes to research toward a cure

100% of funds go directly to the AOA1 cause.

❤️ Join us

Every dollar matters.

Every share helps.

Every person who cares makes a difference.

Together, we can bring hope to children and families facing AOA1.