Team CACNA1A

The CACNA1A Foundation is thrilled to once again participate in the Million Dollar Bike Ride (MDBR)! We are pedaling and walking for our kids who struggle with CACNA1A-related disorders due to a mutation on their CACNA1A gene. CACNA1A-related disorders include intellectual disability, autism, hemiplegic migraines (stroke-like episodes that can lead to brain swelling and coma), and cerebellar ataxia, which affects movement and coordination and causes debilitating dizzy spells, headaches, and speech and language issues.

This is our second year participating, and we are thrilled to join the over 850 cyclists, walkers, and volunteers representing 37 rare disease teams for what promises to be an unforgettable day!

Our goal is to raise at least $30,000 for CACNA1A-related research. All funds raised between $20-$30,000 are matched dollar to dollar by The Penn Medicine Orphan Disease Center (ODC) to be used for 1-year pilot grants for new research on CACNA1A! The ODC ensures that 100% of the funds raised go toward these grants, with no overhead taken out. After the event, grant applications will be open to the international scientific community — scientists worldwide will be eligible to apply.

Whether you want to bike, walk, cheer, or hang out under the tent, we hope you will join us! As an added bonus, June 8th is also the 60th birthday of CACNA1A Foundation co-founder Lisa Manaster, so in honor of her big day, her family will match all gifts made to Team CACNA1A up to $10,000.

Please consider donating to our cause and being a part of transformative research.

Any questions? Please get in touch with our Team Captain, Lisa Manaster, at Lisa@cacna1a.org or 203-969-6552.

We thank you for your ongoing support!