This event is hosted each year in honor of Hayes Wingard. Hayes was diagnosed with SMA Type II in May 2015 when he was 20 months old. He was developing normally and reaching all the typical milestones for babies until he was about one. At that time, he started regressing and could not stand or crawl normally. After many months of testing, a genetic blood test revealed he was positive for spinal muscular atrophy.  At that time, there were no treatments available and no cure for SMA.In December 2016, the first treatment was approved. Hayes continues to receive SPINRAZA treatments every four months and has shown much improvement.

Hayes is 11 now and is in 6th grade at Frances Mack Intermediate School. He is strong and smart and independent.  He still has many limitations but they are not keeping him from living his best life!  Hayes is a LEGO master and loves to play Xbox. He is kind and has a heart of gold!

We have so much hope that Hayes and others who are living with SMA will have a bright future ahead of them.  We are grateful to Cure SMA for their research funds that have made it possible to now have three treatments available and there are many more treatments in the pipeline.  We are grateful for our family and friends, near and far, who support our SMA community by donating their time and money to Cure SMA. Together, we can and will make a difference and we look forward to the day that there is a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.