The Redhead Hunt 4 HD was an opportunity for redheads from near and far to come together but it also had a higher purpose.
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Rachael Brooking organised the Guinness World Record attempt as a fundraiser and awareness raising campaign for Huntington’s Disease, which claimed her mother Frances Kelly
Saturday’s event coincided with Huntington’s Awareness month and money raised will go towards supporting NSW families of people living with Huntington’s Disease.
The inherited brain disorder affects men and women with degenerative symptoms that worsen as the disease progresses.
It is commonly characterised by involuntary movement and lack of co-ordination and life expectancy is about 15 to 20 years after symptoms appear.
Huntington’s NSW executive officer Robyn Kapp is not a natural redhead but her hairdresser helped her fit in at the event, which she travelled from Sydney to attend in support of Mrs Brooking and the cause.
“It’s amazing, I’m just amazed at how many people are turning up, the queue for people to register earlier for the red heads was out the gate, it was unbelievable,” Ms Kapp said.
“People are wanting to know more about Huntington’s Disease and that’s the aim of today to give information to the community.
“It’s a lot like having Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease and some aspects of Alzheimer’s all at the same time.”
Although she said Huntington’s Disease usually affected people aged between 35 and 45, there is a rare juvenile form and children and teenagers are affected if family members get it.
“We do a rural and regional outreach program because families in rural and regional NSW are isolated and we have a support worker who does all of NSW and we have a youth worker,” Ms Kapp said.
“The money raised is going towards the rural program and the youth program.”
Huntington’s NSW fundraising marketing manager Pauline Keyvar said throughout the awareness month of September more than $65,000 was raised, not including any money raised at the redhead event.
“Orange has been involved in that fundraising as well through the Walk for Hope and the high tea,” she said.
At the event, Mrs Brooking thanked people for travelling so far for the event, with some people coming from interstate to attend.