Read about our project here: www.ProjectForesee.com

My name is Rhonda Dunlap, and I reside in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania. I am thankfully the only person in my family affected by CMT and I've been incredibly fortunate to have two strong, healthy sons who have grown into supportive young men.

CMT is a neuromuscular disorder which causes many symptoms like:

• Foot drop

• Muscle wasting (atrophy)

• Foot deformities

• Hand muscle weakness

• Poor balance

• Difficulty with fine motor tasks

• Pain

• Fatigue

• Frequent falls or trips

- and many more

I was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth at the age of 14 during preoperative testing for a spinal fusion. Despite this, I remained active throughout my youth, I participated in pageants from the age of 15 to 22 and was involved in community theater. Looking back at videos from those performances, I can now see subtle signs—like frequently holding onto props for balance- but at the time, I didn't let it hold me back. But CMT is usually progressive and today, I am using a motorized wheelchair and I spend most of my time in bed watching TV, reading, and sleeping. My energy is gone and pain meds don’t seem to fully cut it anymore.

Even though CMT causes me debilitating weakness and fatigue, as well as the terrible pain, I have always believed in trying to maintain a positive outlook. There are, of course, days when I feel frustrated and exhausted -but I try to remember that each new day brings a fresh chance for hope and strength. I'm truly blessed with a loving and supportive family, and I never take that for granted.

Project Foresee is a CMTA sponsored project to advance the most promising CMT4C Gene Therapy cure through known steps to ultimately cure the first handful of patients in the next 3 years. To be living in a time when treatments— and possibly even a cure- are within reach is nothing short of extraordinary. For so long, we have waited for this moment, and it's finally coming into view. With your help we can make this happen. Your efforts will help change lives, and you will absolutely make a difference.

With heartfelt gratitude, Rhonda