Locals get audience with Pope as part of campaign

ON May 18 Pope Francis addressed thousands of families worldwide, including some from Ireland, impacted by Huntington’s Disease (HD). 

Huntington’s Disease is a rare, hereditary neurodegenerative condition. Symptoms include movement, mood and cognitive disturbances, which in the majority of cases appear in a person’s life between 30 and 50-years-of-age.

Among the aims of the trip to the Vatican were to raise awareness of the condition; to call for the ending of the stigma around the condition; and to send the message to those patients who have Huntington’s Disease that they need not feel isolated.  

Approximately 750 people in Ireland have Huntington’s Disease, and as well as the patients, it has a devastating effect on their families.

As part of the HDdennomore initiative (pronounced ‘Hidden No More’), 30 people from Ireland made the trip, including a number of patients from the Northside of Dublin who have the disease.

It is believed that Pope Francis is the first world leader to speak out on the subject and he spent 45 minutes greeting all the patients who were in attendance. 

The visit coincided with President Michael D Higgins’ visit to the Vatican earlier this month. President Higgins is a Patron of the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland.

For more information on Huntington’s Disease visit www.huntingtons.ie