Travel Grant Program

The 8th annual Cure FA Soirée will be on Saturday, June 7th, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (in the USA)! 

The Cure FA Soirée Travel Grant Program was created to make the Soirée more accessible for individuals with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) and their families. The Cure FA Soirée is a fundraiser, but Soirée founders want it to also be an FA Community building event!

Learn more about the Soirée on our Home page, social media sites (found at the bottom of the page), by contacting info@curefasoiree.org, and watch past Soirée performances and speeches on YouTube. Learn about efforts to build and strengthen the FA Community centered around the Cure FA Soirée.

Travel Grant Application Guidelines

  • Request Only What You Need: Please request the amount needed to overcome any financial barriers to attending the Cure FA Soirée on June 7, 2025. Funding for this program is limited, so we ask that applicants be honest about their needs to help as many people with FA and their families as possible attend.

  • Application Disclaimer: Submitting an application does not guarantee you will receive the requested amount.

  • Privacy Assurance: Your information will only be shared with the Travel Grant Committee and grant funding providers.

  • Eligibility: To qualify for a travel grant, you must either have Friedreich’s Ataxia or be a partner or direct family member of someone with FA.

  • Regional Priority: Applications from Oklahoma and neighboring states may be prioritized, but we encourage applications from all eligible individuals, regardless of location.

  • Application Timeline: The application window opens on December 1, 2024, and closes on March 1, 2025. Decisions will be communicated by April 1, 2025.

    • Partial Assistance Only: Please do not request the full anticipated cost of your trip, as this grant is not intended to cover all expenses. It’s designed to help those who face financial barriers attend the Cure FA Soirée.

    • Diagnosis Documentation: You must have documentation confirming an FA diagnosis, which may be requested.

    • Reimbursement Basis: This grant is provided as a reimbursement after you’ve booked your trip and finalized your plans to attend the Cure FA Soirée. You may be asked to provide receipts.

    • Non-attendance Policy: If you are awarded a grant but are ultimately unable to attend the Soirée, you will not receive reimbursement.

    • Advance Funding Requests: If you need to receive the grant prior to paying for travel and accommodations, the committee may be able to accommodate this. However, if you receive the grant in advance and later cannot attend, you must return the funds.

  • Grants are funded at the discretion of the Cure FA Soirée Travel Grant Committee. Applications will be evaluated based on factors such as location, requested amount, travel and lodging plans, and the application write-up.

    Application Period: Opens December 1, 2024, and closes March 1, 2025.

    Application Review: The Committee will contact you to discuss your application, situation, and travel/lodging plans by March 15, 2025.

    Decision Date: Final decisions will be communicated by April 1, 2025.

    Reimbursement Timing: If approved, your reimbursement will be issued after your arrival in Oklahoma for Soirée weekend, no later than June 10, 2025.
    The Committee may approve applications before the application period closes if sufficient information is provided.

    Ticket Information for Grant Recipients
    Approved grant recipients may purchase tickets to the Cure FA Soirée or email Liz Gehr to inquire about sponsored tickets.

    Grant Program Goals and Types
    The aim of this program is to reduce financial barriers for individuals with Friedreich’s Ataxia and their families attending the Cure FA Soirée. The Committee expects to offer three types of grants, subject to availability:

    • Type I: Three grants of up to $1,500 USD for individuals traveling to the Soirée from outside the U.S.

    • Type II: Five grants of up to $1,000 for individuals traveling to the Soirée from within the U.S., excluding the South Central region.

    • Type III: Ten grants of up to $500 for individuals traveling from within the South Central U.S.

    The types and number of grants are tentative. The Committee may consider adjusting grant amounts based on need and the strength of specific applications.

    Travel Recommendations for Attendees Outside the South Central U.S.
    For those traveling to the Soirée from outside the South Central region, we recommend considering flights into Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and then driving to Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City’s airport has limited nonstop destinations and is often more expensive, while the 3.5-hour drive to and from DFW can save on costs and reduce travel time with fewer connections.

    • Name (First and Last)

    • Phone Number

    • Email Address

    • City, State/Region, and Country

    • Who plans to come with you (if applicable)? Please indicate those with FA or discuss your connection to the FA Community.

    • What amount of money do you need to be able to attend the Cure FA Soirée in Edmond, Oklahoma on June 7, 2025?
      (Do not enter your cost. This grant is not intended to cover the full cost of your trip.)

    • How do you plan to spend the money you've requested?

    • What do you anticipate being the full cost of your trip?

    • Have you made your travel and lodging arrangements to attend the Cure FA Soirée? If not, when do you plan to arrange your accommodations? If you've made your hotel/lodging reservation(s), where are you staying?

    • What do you hope to gain from attending the Cure FA Soirée?

    • What have you learned through your journey (or interactions) with FA? Which symptom has affected you most or is the hardest to deal with? Looking to the future, what are you scared of? What are you optimistic about? You don't have to answer all (or even any!) of these questions, just give some insight into your situation/outlook.

For questions or feedback about this program, email Travel Grant Committee.