Country Star Alan Jackson to Raise Funds for CMT Research
The CMT Research Foundation is teaming up with Alan Jackson’s “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” to raise funds that will go toward discovering treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).
For every sold ticket, $1 will be donated to the CMT Research Foundation. A group of supporters and board members also will match dollar-for-dollar the ticket buyers’ donations.
Jackson, a renowned country singer-songwriter, revealed in September that he has CMT.
“The [CMT Research Foundation] is honored to partner with Alan Jackson’s Last Call: One More for the Road Tour for this fundraising effort,” Cleary Simpson, CEO of the CMT Research Foundation, said in a press release.
“This support is certain to shine a light on this inherited disease and help accelerate the rate at which we can fund the research that will result in an end to CMT,” Simpson added.
CMT is an umbrella term for a group of inherited conditions that affect the network of nerves that are part of the peripheral nervous system and supply movement and sensation to the arms and legs. These nerves can become damaged, leading to symptoms that worsen over time, such as weakness and loss of muscle tissue in the legs and feet, and a decreased ability to walk and run.
CMT is estimated to affect about 150,000 people in the U.S., and almost 3 million people worldwide. So far, there is no cure for CMT or any approved therapies.
The CMT Research Foundation is non-profit organization founded by two patients to accelerate the development of therapies for people with CMT. In three years, the foundation has raised $10 million and funded a total of 12 projects. Two of these projects are now in preclinical stages.
“It will take money, awareness, collaborative scientists, and state-of-the-art technology to advance drug discovery for this disease. At [the CMT Research Foundation] our clinicians and scientific advisors are optimistic that we are closer than ever before to a therapeutic breakthrough for CMT,” said Pat Livney, co-founder and chairman of the organization.
Jackson is a multiple award winner with a Billboard ranking as one of the top 10 country artists of all-time. Starting in June, his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” will visit a dozen-and-a-half cities across the U.S. Details about the tour are available here. Tickets for most cities will go on sale March 18, with Citi cardmembers having access to presale tickets starting March 15.
“I’ve always admired my heroes like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and Charley Pride who just played as much as they wanted to, as long as they could. I’ve always thought I’d like to do that, and I’d like to as long as my health will allow. I’ll try to do as much as I can, but if I’m comin’ your way, come see me …” Jackson stated on his official website.
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