TNT’s Allie LaForce and Husband Joe Smith Find Houston Still Has a Giant Heart Astros Hit a Home Run For Former Teammate – PaperCity Magazine

TNT sports sideline reporter Allie LaForce and MLB free agent pitcher Joe Smith had more than half a million dollars to celebrate during their HelpCureHD fundraiser at Minute Maid Parks Union Station. The former Houston Astros reliever and his wife are due to have their first child in November. And therein lies the story of this momentous fundraiser.

Smiths mother suffered and eventually lost her life, before her time, from debilitating Huntingtons disease or HD. The disease has a 50 percent genetic propensity of being passed on to the next generation. This inspired the Smiths to found HelpCureHD. This sporty couple have long been dedicated to saving their future children and the children of others from such a fate.

The first-ever HelpCureHD fundraiser was held at Tootsies in 2018 and subsequent events in Houston were also chaired by LaForce and Smith. Although Cleveland, Ohio, is their home, the couple has enjoyed exceptional support in their efforts from Houston and by the works of Houston-based Dr. Erin Furr-Stimming, a neurologist with clinical expertise is evaluating and treating patients with Huntingtons disease, and Dr. Dottie Roach, a specialist in fertility.

The Minute Maid Park evening raised a record $525,000, happy news for LaForce and Smith for whom the foundations mission is their mission. The funds are earmarked for research into a cure for Huntingtons disease and for grants to cover the costs of PGD-IVF (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and in vitro fertilization) services that aid couples who have the possibility of passing HD to future generations. To date, 18 Huntingtons disease-free babies have been born through the foundation with seven more families, including the Smiths, pregnant with HD-free babies.

Astros joining in support of the cause were team owner Jim Crane and wife Whitney, right fielder Kyle Tucker, closerRyan Pressly and his wife Kat, former Astro (and current Oakland A)Tony Kemp, Astros senior vice president executive operations Jared Crane and his wife Adrienne, Astros sidelines reporter Julia Morales, and Astros vet and MLB Hall of FamerJeff Bagwell and his wife Rachel.

LaForce and Smith will also be conducting fundraisers for the national HelpCureHD organization in California, in Florida and in their shared home state of Ohio.

PC Seen: Marla and Matt Hurley, Jo and Jim Furr, Chris Stimming, Julie Chen, Amanda Boffone, Jessica Roupe, Dana Barton and Robert Clay, Jen and David Grisby, Iris Shaftel, Iraida and Danny Brown, Dean Putterman, Elizabeth and John Elder, and Dr. Sherri Levin.

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TNT's Allie LaForce and Husband Joe Smith Find Houston Still Has a Giant Heart Astros Hit a Home Run For Former Teammate - PaperCity Magazine