Karen Brown, a lifelong Blacksburg resident, is taking powerful steps toward hope and healing. On Saturday, October 4, she will lead the CMTA Blacksburg Walk 4 CMT at Blacksburg Municipal Park, rallying the community to raise awareness and funds for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)—a rare, progressive neuromuscular disorder she lives with every day.
The walk begins at 10:30 AM at 615 Patrick Henry Drive, and is open to participants of all ages and abilities. The route is a gentle 0.5-mile loop, and walkers are encouraged to go any distance they feel comfortable with.
CMT affects approximately 135,000 people in the U.S., including an estimated 40 individuals in the Blacksburg area and 3,500 across Virginia. The disease causes muscle weakness, impaired balance, difficulty walking, and nerve degeneration. Many people face years of misdiagnosis before receiving proper care.
Karen’s goal is to bring visibility to this often-overlooked condition and to support the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) in its mission to fund research, improve quality of life, and ultimately find a cure. All proceeds from the event benefit CMTA’s Strategy To Accelerate Research (CMTA-STAR) program, which has invested more than $33 million in research since 2008.
“This walk is about more than raising money—it’s about building community, sharing stories, and showing that no one has to face CMT alone,” Karen said.
Karen Brown is available for media interviews before and during the event.
Learn more and register at: cmtausa.org/blacksburgwalk
About the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA)
CMTA is a community-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of treatments for CMT, improving the lives of those affected, and ultimately finding a cure. Through its CMTA-STAR program, CMTA brings together patients, clinicians, and industry leaders to drive progress forward.
Media Contacts:
- Karen Brown | karen@cmtausa.org
- Kenny Raymond, CMTA Head of Communications | kenny@cmtausa.org