10th Annual SKR Derby Day Benefit

Imagine this.....

You are at one of the hottest nightclubs in Boston - Royale, where over 300 guests arrive in their best Kentucky Derby fashions!

Guests will be treated to Derby-inspired food and cocktails, a trumpeter calling you to the post, horse "betting," a ladies' hat contest, a men's bow tie contest, amazing auction items, and a large screen broadcasting the
most exciting two minutes in sports!

This high-energy fundraiser supports all of the programs and resources that MitoAction offers free of charge to the mitochondrial disease community. These programs include sending children to summer camp through our Matthew Harty Camper Fund program, scholarships for college aged students, patient education materials, weekly support groups, webinars, live educational events, financial support, care packages for families on extended hospital stays and much more!

We are inspired by your generosity and will continue to actively carry out our mission thanks to YOU!

How It All Began

The annual Sandra K. Russell Derby Day Benefit for Mito is held in honor of Sandra Russell, who lost her battle to mitochondrial disease in 2008. Sandra is the late wife of MitoAction Board member Gordon Russell and mother of Derby Day Committee members Buck, Rebecca and Jonathan Russell.

It was a tradition in the Russell home to host fun-filled celebrations on Derby Day for family and friends. MitoAction is honored to continue this family tradition, and to celebrate Sandra's commitment to helping others, especially those impacted by mitochondrial disease.

To date, Derby Day has raised over $1.2 million towards improving the lives of patients and families suffering from mitochondrial disease. Because of the generous support of our Derby Day sponsors, volunteers, and attendees, MitoAction continues to provide vital support to those who courageously face the day to day challenges of this devastating rare disease.

About MitoAction

For over 14 years, MitoAction has been transforming the lives of families affected by mitochondrial disease. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for children, adults and families living with mitochondrial disease through support, education, outreach, advocacy and clinical research initiatives.

Committed to making the largest impact possible, MitoAction serves individuals in the U.S. and around the world, and all of our programs and services are free of charge. The programs and services MitoAction provides continue to be a lifeline for families impacted by mitochondrial disease. Families know with MitoAction, they will never be alone on this difficult journey.

The Matthew Harty Camper Fund

2014 was the year Matthew Harty's parents, Paul and Sarah, were going to send him to Camp Korey in the summer. "We wanted to send Matthew to camp because we wanted him to feel that experience of just being a kid at camp, like everybody else," Paul said. But Matthew never got the chance. Just days after his 8th birthday, Matthew died of mitochondrial disease.

MitoAction renamed its "Send A Kid to Camp" program "The Matthew Harty Camper Fund" in honor of this amazing little boy. "We have a newfound mission in our family and that's to send as many kids with mitochondrial disease as possible to camp because we never know when they're going to get that chance," said Paul, a MitoAction board member for the last seven years.

Managing Mito is difficult for not only the child, but for the parents, as well. "So the opportunity to go to camp and just be a kid and forget about all those issues that you have to deal with on a regular basis is a gift we have to give to kids and parents moving forward," Paul said.