[Music]
hello everybody [Applause] we made it I know it's been yeah that came from Lauren Byrne
again with her reputation we know that it's been an amazing weekend sometimes a tough
weekend and then a resilient weekend for everybody so welcome to the end but also the beginning
of this amazing family as we continue to grow let's celebrate you all for a little bit I'm
kind of making it round and out from the first session that we have the welcome because I
think it's important to continue to celebrate each and every one of you and all the amazing
people that it took to put this on so first if you are a volunteer who helped out this
weekend and you are willing and able please stand up so we can celebrate you [Applause]
we had 52 volunteers sign up to help with this event and I know somehow to go home early
so we could not have done it without you if you are a speaker served on a panel anything
in front told your story please stand up if you're willing and able [Applause] thank you
for bravely being filmed
I'm not editing them for any kinds of misstep or anything so I'm just no I'm just kidding
uh if you are an htyo board member or staff member or Committee Member please stand up
if you're willing and able [Applause]
we also had a couple who had to leave earlier outside right now because they are tardy but
thank you all for all of your help and work that you put into this we know that we couldn't
have done this oh here it is I'm calling you out Seth for being tardy and Cali two more
board members
foreign we know that there were some some heavy times and tough conversations and that's
why we had amazing volunteers who helped with mental and mental well-being and support if
you were one of those volunteers please stand up so we can celebrate you [Applause] we also
know that that support comes in different shapes and sizes and opportunities so if you
helped someone with a hug with a handshake with a listening ear please stand up if you're
willing and able so we can recognize you who have support and it should be everybody in
this room [Applause]
and this is another one that I think is important I'm not going to make you stand up but I think
it's important to recognize that everybody in this room also probably needed some of
that support so you being able to accept it and acknowledge that you need to be celebrating
that on your own as well because that takes a lot to do that so thank you all so much
for your your vulnerability your ability to support one to one another your ability to
take a break when you need it your ability to continue to join us and learn and do the
best for yourself we really appreciate you all being here this weekend so I want to take
a moment we're not going to do this all externally but I want to make sure that you all are looking
back at the goals that you set at the beginning of Congress how did you achieve those did
you do better than you thought was it easier was it harder I think that's something that's
really important to reflect on because this again has probably been something that was
so rewarding there are surprises but the continuation of setting those small goals each and every
day each Adventure each stage of your journey is really important but it's also important
for you to take the time to acknowledge those successes reflect on some things that you
maybe would do differently and continue to push forward each and every day it's also
important to think about what are your next steps after leaving this this amazing venue
this amazing City and this amazing group of people how are you going to continue to if
your goals were to meet new people does that have to stop today no how are you going to
continue to meet new people it doesn't have to be outward advocacy it doesn't have to
be putting yourself on social media it can be following along in your own path messaging
people you met here today continuing to develop those relationships so you know that your
family will grow and grow and grow of supporters who are there for you if it was someone who
wanted to learn more about the science how are you going to continue to become educated
on those science sessions there are a lot of great webinars through different associations
there are different Publications that get put out there there's HD Buzz how are you
going to continue to empower yourself to to learn more and grow more so you can best advocate
for your needs if it's something that had to do with mental well-being how are you going
to challenge yourself through those hard times and happy times to continue to keep that in
your thoughts it doesn't have to be big goals that are years down the line it can be simple
goals every single day we heard about that in some of our sessions about what are the
three things that you're grateful for each day what's something that you want to tackle
each day and take it step by step and continue to do those things these are really really
important exercises and tools to challenge yourself to do sometimes it's hard a lot of
times it's hard but when you get in that pattern as Bonnie has said in several of her presentations
and talks practicing that self-care is so crucial so continue to set those step-by-step
goals as you leave here today because you truly are a large family and will continue
to grow
that was from a slide that was supposed to be deleted but you also have commonalities
I also want to again acknowledge all of our sponsors who gave their time who helped support
all of this amazing all of you for attending for their tremendous ability to connect with
the community and their investment in each of us and again our scholarship Partners who
continue to invest in sending young people across the globe to they so they can know
learn about other perspectives and now it's time for our Awards this is the fun part so
I'm going to have Matt if you're from the US he's kind of like Vanna White I don't know
if that's International
you did not win any of these
so each of these recipients do get a complimentary copy of the Huntington's disease Heroes book
Matt that has been signed by Charles Sabine and has been voted on by their peers drumroll
this year's first most helpful Emma w
ow come on up here [Applause] great job Emma and I just want to caveat that these are just
fun Awards and so if you didn't win it's not because you weren't helpful or inspirational
supposed to be fun all right yes and this year's 2023 most inspirational
Charlotte see [Applause]
[Laughter]
and yeah [Applause]
thank you and last but certainly not least the most influential
Ashley Clark
[Applause] no get up here though no you're going to be doing the talking now this guy's
Matt in case you didn't know hey hey folks
I haven't used this microphone before can you hear me okay like that yeah or jump to
easy a bit more that's just rude now isn't it sorry um honestly I just want to say just
you know it's been a fabulous event and just thank you to Jenna firstly [Applause] she's
hiding she's hiding but she worked a bit off on this event you know she really did um and
without Jenny this one would not have been anywhere near um so yeah huge thank you and
honestly just a huge thank you to you guys for coming and just be taking that step to
come to this event um you know and being a part of the hgo family the reason I set this
organization up is because people need love they need support they need understanding
and that's something that I try to get across every time I'm coming to these events and
I just love coming to these events for that purpose every single HQ event I've been to
is all about that love and support and understanding and uh that's what it's all about and you
guys really shine through with that so thank you and I hope you have a great time [Applause]
okay well it's finished okay I'll Stand Here awkwardly wait I didn't say take the mic I
just said stand up here awkwardly honestly thanks to Matt for his tireless efforts 11
years ago to start this organization but even before that by your willingness to share your
story because without that none of this would be here so thank you [Applause]
one last note before I send you off volunteers what goes up must come down
yeah so we'll see after just kidding uh but we just want to say thank you again for being
here we love you all we're here for you all reach out whenever you need it and we hope
you have safe travels home and no more strikes
all right see ya [Applause] [Music] foreign