Help A Fifth Season brighten the landscape of Batten disease Nov. 7

Join A Fifth Season in "Brightening the Landscape of Batten Disease from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Cotillion Banquets, 360 S. Creekside Drive in Palatine.

Three area children are battling Late Infantile Batten Disease. Downers Grove residents Noah VanHoutan, age 11, his sister Laine VanHoutan, 9, and Carpentersville resident Bridget Kennicott, 10, all suffer from the horrific childhood disease. A fourth Chicago area child with Batten disease, Ethan Gahlbeck of Elmhurst, passed away last month. The four children once all ran, laughed and played. Now, the remaining three are in wheelchairs, tube fed, and unable to communicate. At this time, Batten disease is always fatal and there is no cure.

With A Fifth Season, they hope to change the landscape for future Batten children and their families by raising critical funds for Batten disease research in honor of Noah, Laine, Bridget and Ethan.

"The name of the event, A Fifth Season, reflects the idea that if only there were more hours in the day, or a fifth season in the year, we would have more time to find a cure," said Jennifer VanHoutan, mother of two of the children. "And we would have more time for each of these special children to experience a childhood before Batten disease ruthlessly steals it away."

The event will feature dinner, drinks, live and silent auction with guest emcee, ABC 7's Ben Bradley and more.

Advance tickets are $100 per person or $120 at the door. Reserved seating and discounted tickets available when buying tables of 10.

A Fifth Season is hosted by Noah's Hope-Hope 4 Bridget, a 501(c)(3) registered charity supporting Batten disease research and recognized by the IRS. For additional information contact Jennifer VanHoutan at Jennifer VanHoutan at (773) 677-6358 or email jennifer@noahshope.com.