Sports
Local parents host golf tournament for PMD
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 by Ashley Corn
Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease, also known as PMD, is an extremely rare genetic disease with only 1,000 known cases worldwide that affects the central nervous system causing delayed and limited motor skills; lifespan is usually limited to childhood. This disease affects 1 in every 300,000 births and currently does not have a cure. One family in Belton hopes to find one for their five year old son, Logan Parker who was officially diagnosed with PMD at the age of two.
On Saturday, Logan's parents Ben and Doris Parker hosted their second fundraiser in Temple for the PMD Foundation to raise money towards finding a cure. To raise money they held a golf tournament, barbecue dinner, and an auction. In 2010 they raised about $55,000, this year they raised about $37,000. The amount of money they have raised all together is roughly $92,000 and all of the proceeds will go directly to the PMD Foundation.
At the fundraiser about 75 people participated in the golf tournament and over 300 barbecue meals were served.
"We really have the community and our friends and family to thank," Doris Parker said. "Without their support and generosity we wouldn't have raised all of that money. Some people pay way over the price on some of the items. We're truly grateful."
Doris Parker keeps in contact with a few other people that have someone in their family living with PMD through a Facebook group.
If you would like more information on this disease or wish to donate go to www.pmdfoundation.org
