Do you love sports? How about fundraising for a good cause? Well, if you’re located in New Jersey, you may soon be able to take part in a fantastic fundraising event to benefit the NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders (NJCTS). According to an event listed on Patch.com, a disc golf tournament will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2021, to raise money for NJCTS and support the Center’s various programs, advocacy efforts, and initiatives. 

Disc Golf Fundraiser

So what is the NJCTS and how does it benefit those with Tourette syndrome? According to the Center’s webpage, its mission and vision centers around creating a community for those with Tourette syndrome, as well as providing educational insights, spurring research, and helping families. The Center operates under a “F.A.I.T.H.”-based value system, as in: Forward-thinking, Accepting, Inspiring, Transformative, and Holistic. 

The fundraiser will center around disc golf, a game played much like golf, though with a frisbee or disc rather than a ball and clubs. During the fundraiser, which begins at 2pm on the 10th, players will work to “putt” and complete each hole. Altogether, there will be six separate divisions at play. Participation in the fundraiser costs approximately $20 for each entrant. 

Need to brush up on your disc golf skills or knowledge before the tournament? Take a look at this handy guide to disc golf published by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). 

Tourette Syndrome (TS)

Altogether, this fundraiser will be raising money for the NJCTS, which aims to improve the lives of those with Tourette syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder. Doctors are not sure exactly what causes Tourette syndrome. However, a mix of environmental and genetic factors is believed to play a role. Tourette syndrome is characterized by involuntary and uncontrollable movements or vocalizations known as “tics.” These usually appear between ages 5-10, although tics may appear earlier or later. As time goes on, tics often decrease in number and severity, though this is not always the case.

In the media, Tourette syndrome is often portrayed as people yelling out inappropriate words or language. However, this is rare and not required for a Tourette syndrome diagnosis. Instead, many patients often experience other tics, such as:

• Grunting or barking
• Repetitive movements, such as blinking
• Shoulder shrugging
• Arm or head jerking
• Nose twitching
• Repeated words
• Coughing or clearing the throat
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Attention deficit disorder (ADD)

Learn more about Tourette syndrome.