Lineman Preston Gilbert paid forward $500 to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America in honor of his mother.
According to hdsa.org, Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and has no cure.
Today, there are approximately 41,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. Huntington’s disease is described as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously. HD is characterized by a triad of symptoms, including progressive motor dysfunction, behavioral disturbance and cognitive decline.
Since 1999, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America has committed more than $20 million to fund research, with the goal of finding effective treatments to slow Huntington’s disease. These efforts have helped to increase the number of scientists working on HD and have shed light on many of the complex biological mechanisms involved.
To find out more, donate, volunteer, or seek treatment, visit hdsa.org/get-involved.
Laurens Electric’s Pay It Forward program began in 2015.
Every Laurens Electric Cooperative employee is entered into a random drawing to receive $500 to pay forward in any way they choose. Each month a new name is drawn, and the employee then has one month to apply the funds toward their own act of kindness.
This initiative is budget-neutral; the funds come from Laurens Electric’s charity events, which employee volunteers make possible.
Employees and the community will enable individual employees to help individuals in the community, and that’s a win-win situation.
