July 18, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Legendary Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian will be honored by Easter Seals on Saturday, July 30, 2005, for his efforts to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C disease.
The disease, also known as NP-C, is a genetic pediatric neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive deterioration of the nervous system, usually in school-age children. By interfering with children’s ability to metabolize cholesterol, the NP-C causes large amounts of the substance to accumulate in the liver, spleen and brain, leading to a series of ultimately fatal neurological problems.
In 1994, Parseghian started the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation to fund study of NP-C in hopes of moving toward a cure. To that end, the foundation has raised over $22 million to combat the disease, which has claimed two of Parseghian’s grandchildren and is affecting a third.
A VIP cocktail reception, followed by a dinner, will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill, to help raise funds in support of the Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and Easter Seals. A limited number of tickets are available for the event, which is scheduled to include an appearance by former Irish quarterback Joe Theismann.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Easter Seals associate director Alex Steele at (800) 221-6827 ext. 7193, or at asteele@easterseals.com.