✨ Neighbors for a Cure: Dodie’s Give Back Night
📅 Tuesday, November 18 | 4–10 PM
🍽️ 25% of all dinner food sales donated to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research
❤️ Supporting Emily and her family—a Forney neighbor living with FA and inspiring others
🙌 No flyer needed — just dine in and make a difference!
Join us for dinner at Dodie’s on Tuesday, November 18 between 4–10 PM to support Friedreich’s Ataxia research. 25% of all dinner sales will be donated to FARA!
❤️ WHY THIS CAUSE MATTERS TO US:
Around here, community means everything. Dodie’s Rockwall has always been more than a place to eat. It’s where friends gather, families celebrate, and neighbors lend a hand. On Tuesday, November 18, we’re inviting our community to join us in supporting a Forney family whose story of faith and strength has touched our hearts.
Emily was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) at just 15 years old. FA is a rare, progressive neurological disease that affects balance, coordination, and muscle strength. When doctors shared that Emily would likely need a wheelchair by her early twenties, it was one of those moments that stops time — when life suddenly looks different, yet love and determination grow even stronger. Instead of giving in to fear, Emily and her parents, Alexis and Richard Penn, chose resilience and light.
Now 32 and living near the Forney-Heath area, Emily is married with four children. She lives life fully — cooking, caring for her family, and adapting with remarkable strength and grace. As her mother describes it, “So many people facing disabilities have a choice: to live in darkness or in the light. We’ve always chosen the light.”
Through their involvement with the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), the Penn family has seen extraordinary progress firsthand. What began as a small grassroots organization in 1998 has grown into a powerful research network driving more than 13 clinical trials and the first FDA-approved treatment for FA, released just last year. About 95% of every dollar raised goes directly toward research which includes things like genetic therapy, protein restoration, and other promising paths to a cure.
The Penns believe strongly in what the community and research can accomplish. “We’ve been riding this train for 17 years, and we’re not stopping,” Alexis said says. “I tell Emily — she’s 32 now — ‘You’re going to see a cure in your lifetime.’” For them, fundraising isn’t just about treatment — it’s about faith in the future and the belief that every small act of kindness brings that future closer.
On Tuesday, November 18, Dodie’s will donate 25% of all dinner food sales to FARA in Emily’s honor, helping to fund ongoing studies and provide hope for families living with FA.
Bring your friends, your family, and your appetite — because every meal makes a difference!
✨ Neighbors for a Cure: Dodie’s Give Back Night✨
- Tuesday, November 18
- Dine-in only | 4–10 PM
- 25% of all dinner food sales donated to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research
- No flyer needed — all dine-in dinner guests count toward the donation!
Explore our menu:
https://dodiesattheharbor.com/menu/
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Dodie’s Cajun Diner at The Harbor
2067 Summer Lee Dr, Rockwall, TX 75032
📞 (972) 771-0004
🌐 www.dodiesattheharbor.com
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About Friedreich’s Ataxia & FARA:
Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA) is a rare, inherited disorder that causes progressive loss of coordination, balance, and strength while leaving intelligence and personality untouched.
The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) funds and accelerates research around the world to find treatments and, ultimately, a cure. Their work is powered by families like the Penns — families who lead with courage, compassion, and hope.
Learn more at www.cureFA.org
Also check out other Nonprofit events in Rockwall, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Rockwall.
