Printer Friendly Version - North Branford Family Hosts FARA Annual Fundraiser Sept. 15

A strong committee of supporters helps the Caruso-Bode family organize the annual event at the Owenego Inn in Branford (shown here). Join them Sept. 15 at their signature dinner event to raise funds for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA). Photo courtesy Caruso-Bode Family

NORTH BRANFORD - The Caruso-Bode family will host their signature dinner event Thursday, September 15th to raise funds for The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA).

Join us at Branford’s Owenego Inn, 40 Linden Ave., for an Evening of Peace, Love, and Acceptance. Tickets are $75 in advance $100 at the door and available now at give.CureFA.org/PeaceLoveAcceptance

The first fundraiser was 24 years ago, when Mary Caruso’s children, Sam and Alex Bode, were first diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA)- a progressive neuromuscular disease. Yet, the family continues with the same determination and optimism to find treatments and cures for FA. With great excitement, they will return to the Owenego Inn.

“Besides being a local icon, the Owenego holds a very special place for our family,” says Mary. “The Blomquist family is so generous and welcoming.”

Both Sam and Alex say, "Their whole family sees us for our strengths, they never see our wheelchairs or hear any difference in our voices.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres followed by dinner and cash bar. There will be a raffle, silent and live auction. Attendees will be offered various disciplines of holistic practitioners, all of which Sam and Alex utilize in their lives.

“We are grateful to our practitioners offering their services to our guests. Maybe someone will try something new that can help them in their life,” says Alex.

All these strong connections help bring this year’s theme together; Peace, Love and Acceptance.

The event is organized by a very strong committee which always promises to give back in gratitude and love. The committee came together naturally, made up of friends and family. Each person holds a unique and strong bond that shines the night of the event.

Committee chairs Michael and Ann Marshal state, “The yearly event is extremely important to our friends; Mary, Sam and Alex, as they draw strength from attendees and also have the chance to say thank you for the support throughout the years.”

Mary adds, ”The committee is our lifeline; we all work very hard for months to bring people a loving, magical evening. Longtime employee and friend, Melanie DeCaprio, works round the clock as we get closer to each event, so diligently that FARA has coined the phrase, ’Everyone needs a Mel.’“ DeCaprio is a Guilford resident.

This year promises the same love and attention to the donors and attendees. Please join us for this year’s event as we advance closer to treatments and cures, and spread the ever so important awareness that everyone has a value and we can all coexist through Peace, Love, and Acceptance.

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuromuscular disorder. About one in 50,000 people in the United States has FA, with most having onset of symptoms between the ages of 5 and 18. Adult, or late-onset, FA is less common (less than 25 percent of diagnosed individuals) and can occur anytime during adulthood.

The signs and symptoms of Friedreich's ataxia are loss of coordination (ataxia) in the arms and legs; fatigue, energy deprivation and muscle loss; vision impairment, hearing loss, and slurred speech; aggressive scoliosis (curvature of the spine); diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent, in most cases); serious heart conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias. The progressive loss of coordination and muscle strength leads to motor incapacitation and the full-time use of a wheelchair. Most young people diagnosed with FA require mobility aids such as a cane, walker or wheelchair by their teens or early 20s. There is presently no treatment for FA.

The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) is a national, public, 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the pursuit of scientific research leading to treatments and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia. FARA's Mission is to marshal and focus the resources and relationships needed to cure FA. Learn more at Curefa.org