Written by: Sam Dupre, Sydni Gibson-Dupre, and Brendan Halverson
On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the Gehr family hosted the 8th Annual Cure FA Soirée at the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was a spectacular gathering, uniting over 400 people, including 38 people living with FA and 42 families traveled from 15 different states with a singular goal: to find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia.
This year’s event was nothing short of success, raising over $590,000 for FA research. The atmosphere was charged with both hope and camaraderie as attendees connected through shared experiences and aspirations. The Omni Hotel provided a beautiful and accommodating space for our gathering, enhancing the overall experience.
“My family and I are honored that the Cure FA Soirée can be part of the fight to cure FA. This year’s event was spectacular, and we are so grateful for everyone who was able to join us, in-person or virtually, or support!” Michael Gehr told me prior to the event.
Having attended the FA Soirée for the second time, I can honestly say that the joy of seeing friends from the community is unmatched. It is heartwarming to share delicious food and enjoy incredible musical performances, knowing that we are all like-minded individuals gathered for a common cause.
Traveling from Louisiana to be part of this event was a journey worth making, and I am looking forward to returning next year.
Here is to the next year and the hope that we will cure FA!
– Sam Dupre
I have attended 5 consecutive Cure FA Soirées now and am so amazed by how much this event has grown over the years. I have also been a part of the planning committee for 2 years now, along with the Gehr family and other incredible volunteers, helping with general planning of the event, collecting items to donate for the silent auction, and personally overseeing the merchandise website.
Recently, I have also been part of the travel grant committee, a new addition to the Soirée, created to help individuals with FA join us at the event who otherwise may not be able to.
It is always an incredible experience getting to see and meet so many others in our community as we come together for a great cause!
– Sydni Gibson-Dupre
The Cure FA Soirée is my favorite FA event! This is my 4th year in a row attending. I have such a great time and keep coming back. The Soirée is so memorable, with singers and performers playing iconic music, great food, and fundraisers for FA. This year was special for me as I got to speak on stage and shared my story with FA. I am so grateful for the opportunity and proud to be a part of something that means so much to me.
It’s so special and welcoming knowing everyone there is united for the same reason: to help cure FA. My favorite part is meeting up with all my friends, both old and new. To me, it’s like a family get-together where I get to be with all my FA friends I talk to on social media all the time but now get to see in person. I also get to meet many new people with FA and welcome them to the community.
This event truly shows that we’re in this fight together!
– Brendan Halverson