All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

HealthWorks sponsors 2024 S.E.T.H. Project Speakeasy Soirée fundraiser

Pictured left to right: Jeff Sandy of The S.E.T.H. Project and HealthWorks; Jack Brautigam, Regional Director of Operations at HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness; Cristen Collins, Operations Manager at HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness. / Photo courtesy of Jeff Sandy

BUCKHANNON – HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness of Buckhannon recently donated to a local nonprofit organization to support an event hosted in Buckhannon in Spring 2024.

HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness donated $500 to the Speakeasy Soirée to be hosted by The S.E.T.H. Project on April 27, 2024, at The Outpost and Event Center in Buckhannon. This night of glitz and glamour will be hosted to raise funds and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.

As described on the Soirée Facebook event posting, “If you don’t know what ALS is, it’s a motor neuron disease that gradually (sometimes not so gradually) paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. ALS is currently 100% fatal. The average life span after diagnosis is 2-5 years.”

Guests are encouraged to dress in a 1920s ‘The Great Gatsby’ theme for a glamorous evening with a cocktail hour, delicious dinner, three poker hands (also considered a stationary poker run) as well as a silent auction.

“[The HealthWorks donation] makes this event possible and it allows us the opportunity to use all the money raised during the event towards our mission,” said Sarah St.Clair, President of The S.E.T.H. Project. “By having these organizations step in as sponsors, it helps us to mitigate costs so that the money we raise can then be turned around and used to end ALS.”

Cristen Collins, Operations Manager at HealthWorks, told My Buckhannon Thursday they business is passionate about supporting the mission of the event.

“HealthWorks is proud to contribute to The S.E.T.H. Project Speakeasy Soiree. We are honored to be partnered with an organization that continues to educate and advocate towards a better life experience for those diagnosed with ALS,” Collins said. “At HealthWorks, it is our core purpose to make those with whom we come in contact better, and we feel strongly that The S.E.T.H. Project exhibits all aspects of our mission. Together, we hold hope that each collected donation leads to a promising future in the continued fight to end ALS.”

The S.E.T.H. Project is humbled by the continued support and partnership with HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness since the nonprofit’s establishment.

“I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart – thank you so much,” St. Clair said. “I know our founder, Seth Poling, would be so thrilled to know that we have a company like HealthWorks that is willing to stand up and fight this horrific disease right beside of us. Without question, HealthWorks has always been there to support every activity that we have done to try and raise funds, continue to fight, and continue to spread awareness towards our mission to a life and a world without ALS.”

Learn more about the S.E.T.H. Project Speakeasy Soirée and reserve your tickets online.

Sponsorship options are still available through donations to the silent auction, naming sponsorships, in-kind donations, an ALS Hero lead sponsor and an ALS Ally supporting sponsor. Those interested in sponsoring the event or donating a silent auction item are encouraged to contact S.E.T.H. Project President Sarah St. Clair at Sarah@TheSethProject.org.

Interested in physical therapy services by local providers? Visit Jeff Sandy and his team at HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness at 103 Professional Arts Plaza Drive in Buckhannon. For additional information about their services, please call 304-285-3730.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Local photographers featured in state’s free wildflower calendar

Several Buckhannon-Upshur Camera Club members were honored with inclusion in the state’s annual wildflower calendar, which is now available to order for free.

Upshur County Commission asks state attorney general to probe high gas prices

Upshur County commissioners voted to send a letter to West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey seeking an explanation for why local gas prices are higher than in neighboring counties. Officials hope an official response will clarify whether market forces are to blame.

Trumps Salon angel tree helps high school students in Buckhannon have Christmas

Trumps Salon is seeking to help 22 high school students on its Angel Tree with requested items to make their holidays brighter. Gifts and donations can be dropped off at the salon on Main Street by December 12.

Upshur County businesses eligible for federal disaster loans after fall drought

Small businesses and nonprofits in Upshur County can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans after drought conditions this fall caused economic losses. The loans cover working capital needs even without physical damage.

Mary Lucille Brady

Mary Lucille Brady Tenney of Hall, WV, mother and grandmother, who with former husband Virgil White owned a Buckhannon furniture store and later worked as an executive secretary, died; she will be cremated with a private family service planned.

Carl Blaine Norman

Carl Blaine Norman, 84, a Buckhannon native, Army veteran and former coal miner who enjoyed reading and tinkering on cars, died November 25, 2025, and is survived by children, siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Carpenter Crunch Time Week 14: The annual “Things I’m not thankful for” column

Local sports columnist Duane Carpenter lists his top three 2025 sports grievances—Rich Rodriguez at WVU, Darian and Tucker DeVries’ departures, and clickbait sports algorithms—then recaps weekly picks and high school football matchups.

Wesleyan announces Mike Kellar as new head football coach

West Virginia Wesleyan College hired veteran coach Mike Kellar, a former MEC quarterback and coach with an 87-63 record, to rebuild a program mired in a 34-game losing streak.

WVU expert offers tips for navigating Thanksgiving family tensions

Forget the turkey and stuffing. The real Thanksgiving tradition is family conflict: A West Virginia University professor says holiday gatherings can resurrect childhood roles and dormant tensions. She offers strategies to keep the focus on gratitude rather than conflict.