The Garcia-Gunn-Lange Legacy and Strides for CJD have partnered together to raise awareness of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a brain disorder, by inviting the community to participate in a walk on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Duane R. Harte Park.
The disease is a rare, rapidly progressive, and fatal neurodegenerative brain disorder caused by abnormal infectious proteins called prions, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website.
Joy Lange’s sister-in-law, Erin, was diagnosed with the disease in December 2025 after having issues since August 2025.
“She is, I want to say, like a vegetable. She can no longer speak, and she’s (been) bedridden for months now,” Lange said about her sister-in-law during a phone interview on Thursday.
She added that finding out that two other area families have experienced this disease was quite remarkable since it is so rare, further prompting the families to start the walk.
The address for the park is 26401 Riverrock Way, Santa Clarita.
To register, visit secure.qgiv.com/event/stridesforcjd2026/classification/305090.
