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The 10th Annual Hope Under The Stars Gala Raises $900,000 for Juvenile Batten Disease Research

By: Jessica Kemp-Park, Director of The Will Herndon Research Fund
| Published 11/13/2018

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Ten years ago, in a field at Rob Fleming Park, the very first HOPE Under the Stars event took place as a grassroots fundraiser to help raise money to save then, 6 year old Woodlands’ resident, Will Herndon. That June, Missy and Wayne Herndon had received the devastating news that their oldest son had been diagnosed with a rare, degenerative brain disease called juvenile Batten disease. With a terminal diagnosis and no viable treatment on the horizon, Missy sent out a prayer request by email to her family and friends to pray for Will. The prayer request went viral and she received an outpouring of responses from people all over the world. They sent words of love, faith and HOPE. These words inspired her to take action and not accept this fate for her son.

On Saturday, October 20, 2018, with a ballroom of nearly 800 guests at The Woodlands Resort, the Will Herndon Research Fund celebrated the 10year anniversary of HOPE Under the Stars. The event raised over $900,000 for research and much needed clinical trial funding for a treatment for juvenile Batten disease. Long-time friends, Will and Nicole Murphy and Wells Fargo The Private Bank were the presenting sponsors for the event. Will and Nicole, the evening’s honorary chairs, were recognized at the event for their years of support and dedication to the fund.

“My wife, Nicole and I are honored to be selected as the honorary chairs for the 10 year anniversary of HOPE Under the Stars,” stated Murphy. “I sit on the board of the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation on behalf of the Will Herndon Research Fund and I see first hand the strides that are being made in Batten disease research by this organization. Nicole has been a dedicated volunteer to HOPE since its inception, helping to spearhead the very first HOPE Under the Stars event in 2009. Our dedication to HOPE is strong and we are committed to fighting right along side Missy and Wayne to help save their son, Will.”

The event had an electric energy from beginning to end. Members of the Sam Houston State “Soul Lifters” gospel choir singing “Lean on Me” kicked off the event. Missy and Wayne shared exciting news on the research development front for what is to come in 2019. Will Murphy reprised his role as the evening’s emcee and live auctioneer. The pinnacle of the evening was the stirring speech made by Will’s brother, 13 year old Steele Herndon. Steele spoke eloquently and bravely about the effects of juvenile Batten disease on his brother Will and their family as he pleaded for the audience to get involved and help save his brother.

The program concluded with a surprise for the audience and the Murphy family of a traditional New Orlean’s Second Line that escorted the guests from the program to the amazing HOPE After Dark after party presented by Waste Connections. The entire was event was organized and chaired by Beth Landgraf and Erin Dore`, HOPE volunteers and Jessica Kemp- Park, the fund’s director.



For more information on events or to learn more about The Will Herndon Research Fund, please contact Jessica Kemp-Park, director of the fund at 713.385.3981 or visit our website: www.willherndon.org

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