From a young age, it was clear that basketball was Paul
Paone’s favourite sport. It was his favourite
to watch and play. He was a member of the Westlane Secondary School basketball
team, where he was a student from 1991 - 1996. In April 2005, at the young age
of 27, Paul was diagnosed with Huntington disease (HD). Although the diagnosis
meant things were about to change drastically for Paul and his family, he never
lost his love of basketball.
In 2009, members of the Niagara Falls Chapter were inspired
by a story about another young man who had held a basketball fundraiser with
great success. The Chapter decided to host
their own tournament, and given Paul’s love of basketball, it was the perfect fit.
The tournament is at A. N. Meyer Secondary School each year, where students
from across the Niagara Falls region fundraise to compete in the tournament.
“It’s a really important education opportunity,” said Judy
Harding, Paul’s mother. “So few people know what Huntington disease is, let alone
its effects. At the end of the tournament, if that group of young people have a
better understanding of HD, then the event was a success.”
Paul shared his mother’s sentiments. He looked forward to
attending the tournament every year, not only for the games, but for the
opportunity to educate young people, who have little or no understanding of the
disease.
Paul sadly passed away in 2015 from Huntington disease. This
year’s tournament is in memory of Paul, his journey with HD and his love for
basketball. If you would like to support the event, we invite you to make a
donation in Paul’s name at www.huntingtonsociety.ca/yes-i-want-to-donate.
A group shot of the competitors with Paul at the 2014 Tournament
Paul with some friends at the 2014 Tournament