Coaches with Rare Disorders Team Up to Raise Awareness & Funds for Research

DRUMS, Pa. - May 27, 2015 - PRLog -- The 2nd Annual “Dystonia Meets Multiple Sclerosis Golf Tournament” is taking place Sunday, June 14 at Sand Springs Golf Course in Drums. Pat Brogan and Dave Latoff, each an athlete and coach, are hitting the green not as rivals, but in cooperation to raise awareness and funds for two debilitating disorders: dystonia and multiple sclerosis.

Brogan is a former college basketball coach and endurance athlete whose life changed forever in 2001 after a hit-and-run collision while training for a triathlon. Miraculously, he survived the accident, sustaining a concussion, brain and spine trauma, and severe road rash. This trauma triggered the onset of dystonia which manifested as powerful, excruciating muscle spasms in his neck. The dystonia was not diagnosed until 2003. He has since endured multiple brain surgeries and has dedicated his life to promoting awareness of this little known disorder and fundraising for research toward a cure.

Dystonia is a chronic, often disabling, neurological movement disorder marked by extreme, involuntary muscle contractions that cause twisting, repetitive body movements and abnormal postures. There are many subtypes that impact people of all ages and backgrounds. Common signs include twisting or abnormal movements of the head and neck, excessive blinking, a breathy or choking voice, hand cramps, or a dragging foot.

Like Brogan, Latoff was an exceptional high school and college athlete. After a year of playing college football, he began experiencing numbness in his limbs. He was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After 12 years as an educator and football coach, he was forced to resign due to escalating symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis, commonly abbreviated as “MS,” is an inflammatory disease in which the insulation that protects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord is damaged. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in a wide range of signs and symptoms including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems.

The Dystonia Meets Multiple Sclerosis Golf Tournament will take place (rain or shine) Sunday, June 14 at Sand Springs Golf Course in Drums with a Shotgun Start at 1:30 pm. Tickets are $80/$90 per person, limited to 144 golfers (36 foursomes). Slots and sponsorships remain available. Proceeds will benefit the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and the Pottsville’s Success With MS Self-Help Group. Additional information is available at www.dystonia-foundation.org/PAgolf

The Pottsville’s Success With MS Self-Help Group supports and funds research activities spanning all research stages, including early discovery and translational research. More information is available at www.pac.nationalMSsociety.org

The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing research for improved dystonia treatments and ultimately a cure, promoting awareness, and supporting the well-being of affected individuals and families. The DMRF can be reached at 800-377-3978 or www.dystonia-foundation.org.