There are few things in if that challenge a person's courage more than 
Huntington's disease.  to fight against impossible odds even when the 
fight itself requires strength that a prson with the disease just doesn't 
have. 

Pushing doubts, fears and dread as far away as possible, but at the same 
time dealing with them requires courage.  Camp Horizon and many 
camps like it are places of beauty where people with Huntington's 
come to find hope and the skills necessary to become courageous and 
yet it takes a lot of courage to make the steps towards the gathering. 

What is courage?  Can it be made, acquired or nurtured?  Yes it can 
and does even when it seems impossible. 
-It is the strength to hear  wordsthat should never have to be said - 
"you have Huntington's Disease". 
-It is the will to overcome fears. 
-It is the strength to push away doubts. 
-It is the will to deal with the thing that you dread the most. 
-It is the tenacity required to ask for help and to let others help. 
-It becomes the weapon against those who try to control you or take 
 advantage of you. 
-It allows you to stop and look at a moment and say - "this is all I 
 need if I want it to be. 
-It shows up in the energy that you draw on to meet the next day. 
-It allows you to believe that there is hope. 

Courage is all of these things - you do not need courage to do them all 
but each new thing you try helps you develop enough courage to go 
farther. 

Camp Horizon is a place of peace, beauty, fun and tranquility nestled in 
the beautiful, untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.  There are camps 
all over the world and there are parks or day homes where pHDs can go to 
get away and give caregivers time to regroup. 

The list too is a place where people come looking for hope on this long 
journey through the unchartered wilds of H.D.  It takes courage to face 
the disease, courage  to go talk and share with others. 

The people on the hunt-dis list and those who have not found it - all those 
who share in the fight against HD are courageous and are warriors and 
though it gets tough, it's miserable and disheartening, pHDs need their 
loved ones at their sides fighting.
 

Lou Wilkinson
 

Slaying The Dragon Poetry