Help give Hans some relief from the ravages of Huntingtons

Hans, a much-loved 51-year-old Kiwi, fascinated with Japanese language and culture from a very early age, has just returned to New Zealand after having lived most of his adult life in Japan. In 2016, the same year he tragically lost his mother to Huntington’s Disease, he was also diagnosed with this inherited disease. The progression of his Huntington’s made it increasingly difficult to maintain a career in Japan and now his family decided it would be best for him to return to New Zealand to receive treatment. Although there is currently no known cure for this disease, his family and friends would like to ensure he has a good quality of life as the disease progresses. A group of Hans’s closest friends is making this appeal on behalf of Hans and his family. All funds raised will be specifically used for Hans’s immediate needs which will include medical costs and care to provide some relief from the ravages of Huntington’s.

Prior to returning to NZ, Hans, a fluent Japanese speaker had been living in Tokyo for the past 27 years.

However, as Huntington’s is virtually non-existent in Japan, he was not diagnosed with the condition until his symptoms had become very pronounced. The deterioration caused by the symptoms meant he was unable to hold a stable position not only in the publishing industry in Japan, where he had worked for around 15 years, but any other available position. He has been struggling financially ever since. The difficult decision for him to return home was made as there is not adequate support for Huntington’s sufferers in Japan and he required more support than could be provided.