Two Run Half Marathon for Noah's Hope Fund October 17, 2009

DES MOINES, IA (August 27, 2009) -- In March of this year, a five year old boy, Noah VanHoutan, was diagnosed with Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (LINCL), otherwise known as Batten Disease. This very rare childhood disease is fatal.

Noah went from being a very healthy little boy to seizure-ridden and unable to speak. Most recently, he has lost his ability to walk and to feed himself. Eventually Noah, like all victims of Batten disease, will become bedridden, be tube fed and suffer from dementia. Research shows most children die between the ages of 8 and 12.

Recently, the Van Houtan family learned one of Noah's sisters may also have this genetic disease. However, further testing is still being done.

Batten Disease is considered an orphan's disease and there is little known about it. To help Batten patients like Noah, gene therapy, enzyme therapy or stem cell is required. The treatments needed for Batten patients to date can only be obtained in China.

People really do make the world go round! The father of Noah VanHoutan and native of Marshalltown, Iowa, Tracy VanHoutan, has two childhood friends, Brett Perry and Jagger Copley, who have committed themselves to helping fundraise for Noah by entering the half-marathon in Des Moines on October 18th. Brett lives in Marshalltown and Jagger lives in Cedar Rapids. They will run to raise money for Noah's Hope Fund.

Sponsor Brett and Jagger by accessing the Donate button on the Noah's Hope Fundraising web page.

Please help generate awareness for Noah and Batten Disease.
You can find more information on www.NoahsHope.com or contact Jennifer VanHoutan with any questions.

CONTACT:
Jennifer VanHoutan
[email protected]
630.541.7595

CONTACT:
Nicole Spreck
[email protected]

Official Website: http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/