Cuero’s Lindenau Hall To Host Event To Benefit Candyce Lane Henwood Gene Therapy Research Fund

At the age of 17, Cuero’s Candyce Lane Henwood was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and blindness. As an active teenager, with a passion for tennis, this was a devastating diagnosis.

Her mother’s search for the best care possible, eventually led to Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, a Harvard teaching hospital and a leader in eye research. It was there where Candyce and her mother met Dr. Eric Pierce, who leads a world-renowned Ocular Genomics Institute at Massachusetts. Eye and Ear where they are working hard to find cures for blinding conditions like Candyce’s.

Several years ago, Candyce gave a blood sample to Dr. Pierce with hopes that he could identify the precise gene causing her vision loss. Dr. Pierce was able to do just that – he identified the defective gene. That was step one! The next step is to replace the bad gene or repair it so that her sight can be saved, and lost sight restored. This process is called Gene Therapy and it offers tremendous hope and promise to millions of people, like Candyce, who are going blind from retinal disease.

This Sunday, October 19th, Lindenau Hall in Cuero, Texas, will be the location for a very special afternoon and evening benefitting the Candyce Lane Henwood Gene Therapy Research Fund. The target of the event is to raise $100,000.00 for the Fund.

The event kicks off at 3pm, with a DJ, Cowboys game on the big screen at 3:30, There will be a Live Auction, with items up for bids including: use of a Costa Rica vacation house, airboat duck hunts, airboat fishing trips, use of a new Braunfels Bar M condo, a week at Newk’s Tennis Ranch, a signed and framed drawing by Candyce, and much more!

There will also by a Silent Auction featuring items including: Houston Rodeo tickets, autographed Bum Phillips book, teeth whitening, silver candleholders, dinner in Austin, and much more!

Local favorites Smoky Wilson and Matt Thigpen have been added to the afternoon entertainment. In the evening, Cuero native, Nashville singer/songwriter Jo-Leah (left) will perform, accompanied by Les Richter (The Drifters).

All proceeds will benefit the Candyce Lane Henwood Gene Therapy Research Fund.

Where: Lindenau Hall

4065 Farm-to-Market 953

Cuero, TX 77954

When: Sunday October 19th, 2014

3pm—DJ

3-6pm--Silent Auction

3:30—Dallas Cowboys vs NY Giants

4-5--Smoky Wilson

5-6--Matt Thigpen

5-6:30—Fajita dinner

6:30—Live Auction (following the Cowboys game)