Napa In Newport Helps Raise over $1 million To Help Find a Cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hundreds gathered at the Monarch Beach Resort on Saturday, February 29 to enjoy the best of Napa Valley wineries and help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The sixth annual Napa in Newport wine auction, sponsored by Porsche, raised more than $1 million to support CureDuchenne’s mission to extend and improve the lives of those affected by Duchenne, a fatal genetic disease that causes muscle degeneration in children. Those with Duchenne often lose their ability to walk by their mid-teens and the disease claims their lives by their late-20s; at this time, there is no cure for Duchenne. Over the years, CureDuchenne has become the force behind considerable advances in Duchenne treatment, made possible by the help of gracious supporters.

2020 participating vintners: Cardinale, 1849 Wine Co., Accendo, ADAMVS, Anomaly, Arietta, Arkenstone, Arrow&Branch, Boisset, Bure Family Wines, Buccella, Carter Cellars, CONSTANT, Crocker & Starr, Dana Estates, Davis Estates, Ellman Family Vineyards, Fantesca, Gandona, Gargiulo Vineyards, Hourglass, Immortal, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Kenefick Ranch, Knights Bridge, Memento Mori, Mondavi Sisters, O’Brien Estate, Orin Swift, Pahlmeyer, Promise, Pulido~Walker, Quintessa, Relic, Riverain, Rivers-Marie, Rudd Estate, Skipstone Ranch, Spottswoode, S.R. Tonella Cellars, Staglin, The Setting Wines, TOR Wines, Trois Noix and ZD Wines.

The guests were reminded of the true reason behind the event when Hawken Miller, a 23-year-old affected by Duchenne, took the stage and shared what a cure would mean to him and his family along with his experience battling Duchenne.

CureDuchenne Founder and CEO Debra Miller also took the stage and outlined the progress the organization has made in the gene therapy space and the impact this has made on the Duchenne community. “Napa in Newport has long been one of the biggest nights of the year for us; it is a chance to connect with long-time supporters, families, partners and make new connections with attendees who want to take an active role on helping cure this terrible disease,” said Miller. “We have made monumental progress on the science and research in the last 10+ years, and we are seeing the impact of those efforts coming to fruition now. The incredible support from events like these help us connect with the community and drives this progress.”

This year’s Napa in Newport event included Vintner Chair, Cardinale which was born in 1982, with a mission to produce a singular Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest-quality vineyards in Napa Valley. The event also featured Celebrity Chef, Craig Strong, whose 25-year career in luxury hotels and resorts earned him a Michelin star from his time at The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena.

The live auction featured unique items, rarely available wines and custom, once-in-a-lifetime Napa Valley experiences. Wine auction items included Dinner in “The Caves” at Napa Valley Reserve, Dinner with Dave Phinney at Orin Swift Cellars, a chance to sit on the judging panel for the 2020 Robb Report Luxury Car of the Year Event, Trips to Tuscany and Portugal, and a private dinner and tasting with Master Sommelier Michael Jordan and Chef Craig Strong. Sponsors for Napa in Newport included Porsche, Lugano Diamonds, COAST Magazine, Carson Wealth, WHGC, Monarch Beach Resort, Eclectic Tour, Urology Partners of America, Mechanics Bank and Client Giant.

About CureDuchenne

CureDuchenne is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for Duchenne, the most common and lethal form of muscular dystrophy. Our mission is to save this generation of children and young adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. CureDuchenne is recognized as the global leader in research, patient care and innovation for improving and extending the lives of those with Duchenne. We operate with integrity through compassion and empowering the community nationally with positive solutions. Our actions fuel hope for families, enable progress for drug development, and extend ambulation for patients in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, medical and healthcare professionals, our scientific advisory board, and our board of directors. CureDuchenne has garnered international attention for its efforts to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne through venture philanthropy. For more information on how to help raise awareness and funds needed for research, please visit www.cureduchenne.org.

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