CONNOQUENESSING — After seeing their mother suffer from the symptoms of Huntington’s Disease, including slurred speech and poor muscle control, two young women decided to begin advocating to raise awareness about the disease.

Their volunteer efforts ultimately earned them a national award that they did not know they were nominated for.

Kiersten Wood, 21, and her sister, Kierra, 18, won the Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s Youth Award for their work in the Huntington’s Disease community, fundraising for the society and advocating to teach the public about the disease.

It’s because of their mother, 45-year-old Melissa Wood, that they began their advocating efforts, starting with Kierra doing a fundraiser at Butler High School in her 10th-grade year. Melissa Wood is in a nursing home, having been showing symptoms for about 10 years.

The duo then went to the Butler Farm Show in 2014, reaching out to the community and raising money for the cause. At the farm show, they met Tricia Pritchard, director of marketing and sales for Family Bowlaway.

Through Pritchard, Kiersten and Kierra coordinated a fundraising bowlathon in October 2015, raising nearly $7,000 for the Huntington’s Disease Society, they said.

Then, Pat McLane, the president of the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the society, nominated them for the award, impressed with the work they had done at the bowlathon.

The sisters were eligible because they are at-risk themselves for developing the disease later in life.

The winner has to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the Huntington’s Disease community, Kiersten said.

But the women weren’t even told that they were nominated until they won.

“We had no idea,” Kiersten said.

Because the disease is genetic, the women both have a 50-50 chance of having the gene that causes the disease.

Huntington’s is a degenerative brain disorder, deteriorating the mind and body. Kierra said it is often compared to ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, making it difficult to diagnose early.

Some of the symptoms are personality changes, depression, forgetfulness, impaired judgment, involuntary movements and slurred speech.

Both Kiersten and Kierra plan to be tested, just not right now.

“It’s harder for me not to know,” Kierra said. “Otherwise, I would spend every day in my 20s and 30s thinking, ‘Oh, when I went to flip the light switch on, I didn’t hit the light switch — it’s hitting me, my depth perception’s all off. I’m done for.’

“So I’d rather know than spend every day living in that kind of life. Some days it is really hard … it still sits in the back of your mind, it’s really scary.”

Kiersten said she has a similar mindset as Kierra and wants to know sooner rather than worry.

“I’d rather know and have a plan or an expectation,” Kiersten said. “I’m the type of person who doesn’t like unexpected things. I like to know what’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen. I need that sort of closure. Like Kierra, I feel like I would live in fear.”

Although they plan on getting tested, neither said they are ready for that just yet.

If they do have the disease, it typically sets in from 35 to 50 years old. On average, a person has 10 to 20 years to live from the onset of symptoms.

With the possibility that either one of them, or both, or neither, could have Huntington’s one day, they have not slowed their advocacy efforts.

“I would just love to spend my time advocating for Huntington’s,” Kierra said. “If I could get paid to advocate for Huntington’s, I would.”

Kiersten is studying early childhood development and education at Butler County Community College.

Kierra, who graduated from Butler High School as an honor student Tuesday night, plans to attend BC3 for human resources and then to transfer to Robert Morris University for a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.

But the two do not plan to slow down their advocacy locally.

They already have plans for the second bowlathon, at 11 a.m. Oct. 2 at Family Bowlaway.