Bloomington family holds fundraiser to combat rare disorder in 2-year-old

Posted on May 13, 2016
Alan and Corin Chapman
Alan and Corin Chapman discuss her son, Max’s PBD and a fundraiser to benefit GFPD. (Photo by Laura Ewan/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – A local golf outing that’s raising money to combat a rare and often fatal disorder has sold out.

Alan Chapman is raising money for a global foundation that’s seeking a cure for PBD (Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorder) which afflicts one in 50,000 people. One of them is his two-year-old grandson Max.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Alan and Corin Chapman on WJBC.

“The support within our community and within a larger community we’ve reached out to has been overwhelming,” Chapman said. “The event has vastly exceeded out greatest expectations.”

PBD damages the kidneys, liver and bones and causes problems with vision and hearing.

Sponsorships are still available for Tee It Up for GFPD (Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders), an event on Friday at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal. There will also be a silent auction at the Illinois State University Alumni Center, 1211 N. Main St., Normal at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Mother Corin Chapman said treatments are limited because most affected children don’t live past age 10.

“At this time, there’s no treatment, there’s no cure, so that’s really what I think pushed us to continue to raise money for the GFPD because it’s so rare and we have so little to go off of right now,” Chapman said.

The family said Max is doing well.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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