This year marks the ninth annual International Race for Progeria Research. The popular road race that kicks off Peabody's International Festival attracted more than 250 athletes and families last year. The money raised supports the Progeria Foundation, whose mission is to cure this rare condition in youngsters.
Audrey Gordon, president and executive director of the Progeria Research Foundation, grew up in Peabody and said there has always been a lot of local support in the community. Her 13-year-old nephew Sam, who lives in Foxboro, has progeria, a genetic condition that causes rapid aging in children.
Sam will be at the race on Saturday, along with two other youngsters, who are currently enrolled in a clinical drug trial in Boston. The two kids are from outside the area and are looking forward to the Peabody race.
"Jesper is from Denmark and is 12 years old, while Sarah is from Indiana and is almost 7," said Gordon, whose family founded PRF. "We only use first names of the kids. This event will give them a chance to take a little break from the hospital to come to Peabody and watch the race."
There are many events, including golf tournaments, road races, dress-down days at companies and cans in stores in various states and countries, to help raise money for research. Gordon said they hope to raise $25,000 on Sept. 11.
"Our race grows a little bigger every year," Gordon said. "We started out with around 100 people, and now we have almost three times that number. We wanted to have a local road race, and we were lucky to be in the right place at the right time. I called the mayor's office and told them we wanted to run a race but didn't want to interfere with their kids' road race, which was part of the International Festival activities.
"They were so helpful and said we could take it over if we wanted so we run the same route they used. The whole community is so supportive, and the Peabody police are great. They provide a motorcycle escort for the kids, which they love. North Shore Bank is our big sponsor, but we also have many other businesses helping out. And we are delighted to have Jesper this year because he adds to the international aspect."
In the 11 years since Gordon's family started the PRF, they have made amazing strides. One in every 4 to 8 million children worldwide are diagnosed with progeria, and the average life expectancy is 13. Some live longer, while others don't make it to their teen years. The biggest causes of death are what older people often die from: heart attacks and strokes.
"There are only a couple of hundred children in the world with it," Gordon said. "But if we develop a treatment and cure for progeria, we could also help millions of people with heart disease and problems associated with aging. Ours is the only progeria organization in the world, and our research is coming along faster than we had hoped. People look to us as a model for other foundations because we started with nothing 11 years ago and now have identified the cause and have a clinical drug trial going on at Children's Hospital in Boston."
Gordon explained the cause is a genetic mutation, but not hereditary. She said they have developed a diagnostic testing program where blood from a child who is thought to have progeria is collected and sent to a laboratory to be tested to confirm the diagnosis.
One of the foundation's main goals is expanding the length and quality of life made possible by research grants and the triple drug trial that involved 45 youngsters from 24 countries. The results of their trial will be available soon.
PRF also published a Progeria Handbook full of information for caregivers. This mission has become a full-time job for Gordon, who has a staff of three in the Peabody headquarters. She travels to different states for various fundraising activities on the average of once a month.
"I'll be off to a golf tournament in New Jersey in a couple of weeks and then a car show in Georgia," she said. "I try to support all the fundraisers. We rely heavily on our volunteers."
Every year, the Peabody High track team runs to support this event. Gordon hopes more schools will come out in support. She is also pleased that members of the Salem Witches running club show up to race.
"I think that would be great competition if we could attract teams from other schools," Gordon said. "The Peabody High ROTC class volunteers to help out along the route directing people so nobody gets lost, and they do a fantastic job. We start at City Hall and do a big loop around the downtown area — up to the Higgins Middle School, past Emerson Park and back to City Hall. It's a nice course, and we are delighted to get the International Festival started."
IF YOU GO
What: International Race for Progeria Research
When: Saturday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.
Where: Starts and ends at Peabody City Hall
How long: 5K race and two-mile walk (held at same time)
