Joshua Owen Cunliffe Memorial Fund Benefit

Joshua Cunliffe, son of Fred and Kathleen Burbank Cunliffe died on December 23, 2009 at the young age of 21. He lost his courageous battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and we are planning this special event to honor and remember him, as well as raising money for the JOC Memorial Fund. Joshua was a life long resident of Southington, and attended Thalberg, Derynoski, JFK, and Southington High School. Proceeds of the fund will benefit families in need whose children are stricken with Duchenne MD, as well as appropriate causes that were near to Josh’s heart. 

The evening benefit will be held at The Aqua Turf Club, located on Mulberry Street in Southington, CT. The benefit will include Dinner, Open Bar, Entertainment, Silent Auction and Dancing, and a special time of remembrance. It will be hosted by Tony Terzi. Sound and music will be provided by The Connecticut School of Broadcasting.

Tickets are $60 per person or $75 at the door. If you would like to sponsor a table of 10 the cost will be $550. Please contact Colleen Ververis at 860-916-7732 for ticket information or if you would like to make a donation. 

Checks should be made payable to: The Plantsville Congregational Church. ***Please note in the memo: Joshua Owen Cunliffe Memorial Fund*** Donations may be mailed to the Plantsville Congregational United Church of Christ, 109 Church St, Plantsville, CT 06479. 

If you would like to donate an item to the Silent Auction, we would be very pleased and all donors will receive recognition at the event and in our printed program. This includes individual donations as well. 

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy affects one in 3500 male births around the world. It occurs equally among different races, cultures, and geographic locations. In more rare occurrences, girls can also get Duchenne. Although it is often inherited genetically, more and more occurrences are random mutations affecting families who never expected its arrival in their lives. 

Although incredible contributions to research and care over the years have led to interventions that help increase the life span of Duchenne patients, there is still no cure. Duchenne is progressive, degenerative, and ultimately takes the life of those it affects far earlier than anyone would hope, usually between mid-teens to late twenties.

While living with this disease, each year brings changes and a decline in function. Eventually those affected are confined to a wheelchair, cannot feed themselves, or provide daily care for themselves. They need a great deal of assistance and often declines in health require difficult surgeries, ventilators, breathing therapies, hospital beds, and other medical interventions on a daily basis. 

Many families cannot afford items and equipment that would provide their children with the best quality of life in their short time on this earth. This disease comes with incredible burdens and anticipatory grieving. Our hope is to be able to reach out and offer help, so that in some small way we might make a child's life a bit easier. Your help will be greatly appreciated!!