Fasig-Tipton, Coolmore America, and WinStar Farm have teamed up to host “Night For A Cure”, a fundraising party to be held Sunday, July 10th with all proceeds going to benefit the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund and its steadfast quest to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
The event will take place from 6-10 p.m. at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky, just two days prior to the sale company’s annual July Selected Yearlings sale.
“What I think is incredible about the horse business is the unity that can be displayed when we come together for a cause,” said Boyd Browning, President of Fasig-Tipton. “Fasig-Tipton is honored and delighted to host ‘Night For A Cure’, which coincides well with the timing of our July yearling sale. Ann Hanley’s fund is a tremendous cause, and the research is going to make a difference to those affected by Parkinson’s disease.”
Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease that causes the breakdown or death of neurons in the brain. With no exact known cause, Parkinson’s develops gradually and causes a variety of symptoms, including muscle rigidity and tremors, as well as difficulty moving and unstable posture. It is estimated that about one million Americans and 10 million people worldwide have the disease.
Upon diagnosis at age 50, Lexington resident Ann Hanley began to investigate different treatment options, and she has since joined a research team led by Dr. Greg Gerhardt and Dr. Craig Van Horne at the University of Kentucky. The research team has made substantial progress in developing a new surgical technique to drastically reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through procedures that include deep brain stimulation and nerve grafts.
Hanley recognized the challenge of adequate funding for such research, so she set up the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund in 2015 to ensure that the groundbreaking work being conducted by Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Van Horne and team could continue.
“Ann Hanley, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, is not only fighting the disease herself, but fighting for others as well. If we would all help support Ann’s research fund, we can truly make a difference for people all over the world that are battling this terrible disease,” said WinStar President & CEO Elliott Walden.
Hanley’s husband, David, has been a member of the Thoroughbred community spanning four decades. The Ireland native moved to Kentucky in 2001, and is currently the General Manager at WinStar. Last November, the Ireland-based sales company Goff’s hosted a stallion season auction to benefit the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund, raising over €150,000 through the support of the Irish and European Thoroughbred industry.
“David and Ann have been big contributors to our industry who’ve done business with virtually all of us through the years, so it is great to see the industry rallying around Ann for such a worthwhile cause,” added Dermot Ryan, Manager of Coolmore America. “Dr. Craig Van Horne, Dr. Greg Gerhardt and their team have made very important progress so far, and, with our continued support, can make a lasting difference to the lives of the many people impacted by Parkinson’s.”
“Night For A Cure” will feature food, live music by The Wooks and Steve Norman & the Shades of Grass, and more. For information on sponsorship options and tickets, please contact Caroline Walsh at 859-297-1302 or cwalsh@winstarfarm.com, or Amy Nave at 859-297-1329 or anave@winstarfarm.com.
