2016 HOTSTART Softball Charity Challenge Benefiting Cure SMA

The HOTSTART Softball Charity Challenge, now in its 8th year, is a friendly intra-company charity event that raises thousands of dollars for a worthy local cause. The 2016 “Bringing the Heat” Softball Charity Challenge will be held August 20th, 2016 at 4pm at Orchard Park in Spokane Valley and will benefit Cure SMA.

In eight years, the event has raised over $20,000 for local organizations. The charity of choice this year is Cure SMA, a non-profit organization that seeks to find a cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness similar to ALS. The disease generally manifests early in life and is the leading genetic cause of death in infants and toddlers. SMA has generally been believed to affect as many as 10,000 to 25,000 children and adults in the United States, and therefore it is one of the most common rare diseases. Cure SMA funds and directs comprehensive research that drives breakthroughs in treatment and care while also providing families with the support they need currently.

The charity challenge includes a softball game between two HOTSTART teams, a picnic for the attendees and raffle of donated prizes following the game.