Tennessee Family Raises $75K for Rare Disease Research

When David Coldiron's daughter Hazel was diagnosed at age 3 with a rare progressive disease, his family decided to turn their pain into purpose.

Hazel, now 13, lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a condition that gradually affects her ability to walk and use her hands. Despite the challenges, her parents describe her as joyful, surrounded by friends and family who refuse to let this diagnosis define their lives.

Six years ago, the Coldiron family made a creative decision. They transformed their annual Kentucky Derby party into a fundraiser for CMT research and awareness, proving that celebration and purpose can go hand in hand.

The results have been remarkable. Last year's event raised $75,000 for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, funding that goes directly toward finding treatments for a disease that currently has none.

This Saturday, the sixth annual fundraiser returns to Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville. A couple hundred guests are expected to enjoy mint juleps, bourbon tastings, Derby games, and fancy hats while supporting cutting-edge research.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one family's fight has grown into a community movement. By inviting their neighbors to dress up, sip bourbon, and watch the Kentucky Derby, the Coldirons have created an accessible way for hundreds of people to contribute to rare disease research.

The fundraiser demonstrates how local communities can drive meaningful change when given an easy, enjoyable way to help. Every ticket purchased at RosewoodTN.com becomes an investment in future treatments that could help Hazel and thousands of others living with CMT.

Rare diseases often struggle for research funding because they affect smaller populations. Events like this bridge that gap, connecting everyday people with scientists working toward breakthroughs.

For Hazel, the party represents more than money. It's a powerful reminder that her community stands with her, turning what could be an isolating diagnosis into a shared mission filled with hope and determination.

This weekend, Nashville will raise their glasses not just to watch horses race, but to fuel the race toward a cure.