MEDIA ALERT: Third Annual Cornhole Tournament to Raise Awareness for Neurological Disorder Dystonia

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sept. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) is teaming up with GoFlingo.com, a western NY-based sport and social club, to hold the second annual Toss4Dystonia - the largest Cornhole tournament in the Western New York region, on Saturday, September 26 at Buffalo Riverworks. The event will promote greater awareness of dystonia and raise funds for medical research toward a cure.

Western-NY native, James Metherell, created the tournament in 2013 in honor of his oldest son Caleb, who is diagnosed with a childhood form of dystonia. Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by excessive, involuntary muscle contractions that result in twisting, repetitive movements, as well as sustained abnormal postures. There are multiple forms of dystonia that impact people of all ages and backgrounds.

Cornhole, also known as bean bag toss, is a lawn game where players take turns throwing one-pound cornhole bags at a raised platform with a hole at the far end. A bag in the hole scores three points, while one on the platform scores one point. The event will consist of two separate tournaments – one competitive and one recreational – up to 80 teams each. In addition to the tournaments, attendees can also enjoy raffles, tossing challenges, child-friendly games, bounce-houses, face-painting, food and beverage sales, and can even make free attempts at setting an official Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Cornhole Toss.

Tournament registration is $30 per person/$60 per team for the recreational division, and $40 per person/$80 per team for the competitive division. General event admission is free.  Raffle tickets and admission into the Kid’s Zone, where kids can use bounce-houses and get their faces painted, are available for a fee.  Parking is free.

About Caleb: Caleb’s symptoms started at five years of age with a mild speech impediment. Less than two years later, Caleb was bent over at the waist, involuntarily stuck in an awkward and painful posture. It was agonizing for him to stand, or even sit, unless he could rest his body in a fetal position.  Despite having medical coverage, Caleb was not diagnosed until he was nearly 9 years old—and after several misdiagnoses. The correct diagnosis came after a positive test for a gene mutation known to cause dystonia. This gene mutation was discovered through research funded by the DMRF. Medications only partially subdued some of Caleb’s symptoms, and in July 2015 Caleb traveled to San Francisco to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery from a renowned neurosurgeon. Caleb has recovered well from the surgery, and is already seeing significant benefit from his symptoms.  The painful muscle contractions that limited Caleb to a wheelchair have subsided.  He has not used a wheelchair since arriving home on July 28th.  He is also seeing some potential for improvement in other symptoms.  He is hopeful to get his voice back and full use of his arms with further adjustments and time.

WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2015. General admission and check-in starts at 12:00 pm. Bags fly at 1:30 pm.

WHERE: Buffalo Riverworks, 359 Ganson Street, Buffalo, NY  14203

WHO: James Metherell, event organizer