OUR STORY
In August 2024, our worst fears were realized when our sweet, silly, tenacious Pierce was diagnosed with a rare and fatal genetic disease called TECPR2 (think childhood ALS aka Lou Gehrig's Disease). We were told that although he was still slowly improving in learning to walk and communicate, his nervous system would soon start to attack itself, taking away these abilities as well as ultimately taking away his ability to breathe. No child with TECPR2 has ever lived past their teenage years.
Our family had nearly lost all hope… or at least until we met Leni and the Kaplans…
The Eleanor Kaplan Foundation has successfully created a gene therapy cure for TECPR2 that is officially ready for human clinical trials! Approvals have been granted by the FDA, Harvard University/Boston Children's Hospital have agreed to conduct the trials, and a pharmaceutical company has set a date in the calendar to produce the cure.
Our sole roadblock is having the seven-figure funding necessary to actually manufacture the medicine. A single manufacturing run will produce enough medicine to cure all children affected by TECPR2, eradicating this horrible disease forever.
Time is of the utmost essence and we urgently need your help raising the funds to give Pierce, Leni and others the best chance to live.
We are calling on the generosity of family, friends, neighbors and strangers to help us. #FiercePierce
WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING
All donations are tax-deductible and go to the Eleanor Kaplan Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 (Tax ID: 86-1876534). 100% of the funds raised will go directly to the production of the cure!
PLEASE JOIN US
With your help, we can reach this goal together and cure this disease once and for all.
Thank you all so much,
Rachel, Duane, Pierce, and Sterling
HOW YOU CAN HELP TODAY
1. Donate what you can; no amount is too small, and donations are tax-deductible.
2. Share on all social media with the hashtag #FiercePierce
3. Email our GoFundMe and these steps to all contacts.
4. Leverage any avenue you have to make this go viral (or send us leads/tips).
LEARN MORE ABOUT PIERCE AND LENI
