Our Crowdfunding Groups
PRESTON'S STORY
Preston Gale was diagnosed with a rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder called Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 1 (AOA1) in March 2021. The initial diagnosis was devastating to him and the Gale family. Despite his challenges, Preston thrives. He is an excellent student, a budding scientist, and a knock-knock joker extraordinaire!
AOA1 is a very rare disorder impacting only a handful of people in the United States. Symptoms include challenges with balance and coordination, which will continue to regress over time. There is currently no direct treatment or cure.
This is where you come in.
Brent Fogel, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the UCLA Neurogenetics Clinic and a member of the UCLA Ataxia Center, is launching research to develop a groundbreaking gene therapy that has the potential to stop the progression of this disease. Gene therapy uses novel technologies to repair defective genes and has proven to be effective for a number of other rare genetic disorders.
Gifts to the Gale Family AOA1 Research Fund directly support Dr. Fogel’s research. Your financial support is critical for moving this groundbreaking research forward and helping to find a cure to this terrible disease.
JOIN MY TEAM: FUNDRAISE FOR PRESTON!
Welcome to our Team Page. We've formed this team to support Preston and the Gale Family and bring awareness and critical funding to support this rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder, called Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 1 (AOA1).
On Sunday, November 6, we are proud to be running for Preston in the upcoming TCS New York City Marathon. Our team of Katie Schwart, Gabriel and Diane Swire, are excited to be participating as members. Preston inspires all of us with his strength, courage, curiosity and resilience and we are thrilled for the opportunity to participate in a fundraiser to support him and others with AOA1. We'll spend the next few months fundraising for Dr. Fogel’s research at UCLA and hope you consider donating to our team and helping advance the cause. Diane and Katie are also excited to be running their first marathon.
Your gift of any size will make a real and meaningful difference for Dr. Fogel's research at UCLA.
Thank you for your support! 
If you do not wish to receive further fundraising information from UCLA Health Sciences, please either call us at (855) 364-6945 or email us at hsd_optoutucla@mednet.ucla.edu providing your name, address, phone number, email, and from which department you're requesting to be removed. Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please review UCLA and The UCLA Foundation’s Disclosure Statements for Prospective Donors and learn more about how The UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments at www.uclafoundation.org/disclosures.