KeyStore supports Huntington's disease charity’s Dance 100 challenge

KeyStore has joined a major charity event as its first corporate song sponsor in support of families living with an incurable and devastating disease.

The announcement was made by Scottish Huntington’s Association as it prepares to take over George Square in Glasgow next month with its Dance 100 challenge to raise funds and awareness about Huntington’s disease.

Hundreds of families and supporters from across Scotland are expected to hit the city centre dancefloor on Sunday, 14 May for the five-hour dance challenge, fuelled by a top DJ and spurred on by guest performers and entertainers.

KeyStore is the first business in Scotland to take up the invitation to sponsor a song to be played on the day. The company, which has independently owned convenience stores across Scotland and the north of England, is also encouraging customers and KeyStore owners to get involved by donating or going along on the day to dance.

“Keystore got on board immediately when we explained how Huntington’s disease impacts families, including young people,” said Scottish Huntington’s Association senior fundraising officer Gemma Powell.

“We’re very grateful for such a generous donation and we know their chosen song - The Key by Urban Cookie Collective – will be a big hit with our dancers.

“Together we’re going to make a big noise in Scotland’s largest city to make sure more people know about Huntington’s and why families need specialist support to cope with this devastating and incurable disease.”

Huntington’s disease is caused by an inherited faulty gene that damages the brain over time, causing severe mental, cognitive and physical symptoms. People with the disease can eventually lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink and care for themselves.

The toll on families is compounded further by the reality that each child of a person with Huntington’s has a 50 per cent risk of inheriting the disease, meaning that it impacts entire families over generations.

Around 800 people in Scotland are living with the symptoms of Huntington’s right now, with a further 3,200 estimated to be at risk of developing the disease.

Scottish Huntington’s Association provides personalised support through a nationwide network of HD specialists, specialist youth advisers and financial wellbeing officers. The charity also works with medical, health and social care professionals to ensure families have the care that’s right for them, while campaigning for improved specialist services across Scotland.

“KeyStore is committed to supporting the local areas we operate in, and community is very much at the heart of what we do. When Scottish Huntington Association approached us, we were happy to support,” said Sue Man, group marketing manager at KeyStore wholesaler JW Filshill.

To join Dance 100 visit hdscotland.org/Dance100