“Rock The Reel” Rare Disease Events Energize Hope

Although World Rare Disease Day, February 28th, is a month away, Two Hearts Rock™ has already begun hosting awareness events designed to turn up the volume for a critical cause.

Lori Butler and Kerry Hughes, Co-Founders of Two Hearts Rock™, were incredibly moved by the medical documentary, Here.Us.Now., which they viewed last September in conjunction with the Global Genes’s Tribute to Champions of Hope Gala.

En route back to Chicago, while waiting to board their flights at John Wayne Airport, they decided to orchestrate an event in The Windy City featuring a screening of Here.Us.Now.

Things began to multiply quickly as Kerry and Lori fine-tuned the details. It became clear that they would host not only one, but TWO separate events.

The premiere “Rock The Reel” Reception and Film Screening took place on Friday, January 25th, 2013 in Hawthorn Woods and is to be followed by a second in Barrington this Saturday, February 2nd, 2013.

One hundred guests gathered at a pre-movie reception which featured live acoustic guitar music by Mike David, before being welcomed by Jenniffer Weigel, of The Chicago Tribune, who gave a heartfelt keynote address.

After the movie, Gene Andrasco, representing the Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood Foundation, and father of 11-year-old, Kiley, who suffers from this rare condition, gave an impactful and tearful call to action. He spoke poignantly about the need for grassroots efforts to fund treatments for rare diseases.

The event continued as “Rock The Reel” guests enjoyed an infusion of live music by seven piece band, “Out of Storage,” that rocked the house until midnight.

Thanks to generous supporters, including leading sponsor, CorDynamics, the first “Rock The Reel” raised thousands of research dollars and a priceless amount of awareness.

Kerry and Lori invite those in Chicagoland, to join them this Saturday for Take Two of “Rock The Reel.”
“Tanglewood Tales” will be rocking the reception and “Between the Lines” will be jamming late into the night.

The second “Rock The Reel” Benefit will support the family foundation of Bridget Kennicott, the inspiration behind Two Hearts Rock™. Bridget suffers from late infantile Batten disease and is one of 5 children in Chicagoland afflicted.

Event information can be found on the Two Hearts Rock™ website.