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School, community rally to 'Walk with Nick'
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Nick Heuchan, 10, center, of Dundalk, talks with family friend Mark Kwiatkowski, right, while looking at a 1969 Chevy Camaro during the “Walk with Nick” community walk and car show Saturday.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Nick Heuchan’s dream of drag racing will not come true because he has a rare disease that robbed him of his vision and motor skills.
Instead, Nick sometimes rides in the back seat of his sister’s car or sits in the front seat while a golf cart pulls along the car.
Nick, a fourth-grader at Norwood Elementary School in Dundalk, has juvenile Batten disease.
He still has some vision but is having trouble with his memory and behavior, his mother, Tina, said.
“We kind of take it day by day,” she said. “The disease makes him forget, and he can’t remember things that he knows he knows.”
Batten disease causes nerve cells throughout the brain and body to function improperly, resulting in a gradual loss of vision and physical and mental abilities, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Saturday marked the fourth year his school held a fund-raiser walk and car show benefiting research for Batten disease, which has no cure.
“Walk with Nick” honors Nick, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2003.
“When Nick got here and we found out about his illness, it hit home,” said Matt Berkey, Nick’s gym teacher, who runs the event.
To go along with the mile walk, Norwood teachers donated prizes for a student raffle, including gift cards, toys and a pizza-party lunch with a teacher.
The attention from the event used to scare Nick, but Berkey said he has warmed to the spotlight.
“Last year, he did a really good job,” Tina Heuchan said. “He picked out a car with helicopters and army men all over it.”
The top 30 cars at the fundraiser received awards by popular vote. Contestants voted on best classic car, engine and paint job.
Proceeds benefit the Batten Disease Support and Research Association.
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Examiner Reader said:
Yeah OCO, and supposedly one of Noris's many women on the side was Sheila Dixon.. They did recently rendezvous in a hotel. LOL Anyway, the city needs to use all potential resources and experts to get a handle on this crime problem. Norris was better than what we've had since. Besides, I'd trust him as much as I'd trust no-bid contractto family and friends Dixon and $40,000 missing money Mitchell. LOL
214 agree | 199 disagree
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Jill Carter said:
I hope Jill Carter is right about integrity mattering more than money but I fear otherwise.
219 agree | 196 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For those who didn't hear the radio debate, the candidate's statements are on the Sun website. You can click it on from the blog on mayor race 2007. See for yourself.
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Examiner Reader said:
Of course Dixon leads in fundraising. She's very easily bought, and that's why she has never done anything for the people of the city, only those who've paid her off.
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Examiner Reader said:
I have a lot of respect for Delegate Jill Carter. Unfortunately, she is incorrect. You need millions of dollars to become mayor. Every mayor elected this decade has had millions of dollars.
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Examiner Reader said:
Mike Huckabee came in fourth, beating McCain. That is telling as well. Thompson getting second was probably the truest "surge" vote, because Romney's volunteers were out in full force and bought lots of ballots.
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't even see how anyone could disagree with both comments posted below???
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Examiner Reader said:
My son Christopher died from Batten Disease 3 years ago at age 8. It is ALWAYS fatal, as there is no cure or treatment for it. Since it is a rare disease, large pharma's will not see a big return on their investment, so they do not fund any research for a cure. Much of the research funding comes from fundraisers by the families of affected children. Its alot to do when you are already stretched to the limits caring for a sick, and in many cases multiple sick children. I think if more people knew how devastating and fatal this disease was, there might be more buzz to create awareness. Visit BDSRA.org to learn more and to see the faces of our children.........they are special gifts indeed!
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you for writing this article. I also have two children with juvenile Batten Disease. One thing you left out of yur article is that Batten Disease is always fatal. If the family wanted that omitted from the article I can totally understand that. However if they didn't want it excluded that is a very powerful statement. Also we want more of the general public to know about this disease that is killing children every year and that the Federal government is doing very little to help in the research to find a cure or treatment for this disease. I believe this is something that the publice should be aware of. Also that the members of the BDSRA are the main the main source of fund raising for research against this disease. An interview with the executive director of BDSRA could also add more wait to your article and also raise more awareness for the disease. Please continue to write about this disease and raise as much awareness as possible. Thank you for your help.
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