World record attempt aims to help local boy battle rare disease
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. (WRSP) — The Pleasant Plains community is doing everything they can to help the Lucas family as their child battles a rare disease.
Drake Lucas was diagnosed with Hurler’s Syndrome shortly after birth.
“It’s an inherited disorder in which you were missing an enzyme, which causes the build up of a material. Which can lead to anatomical deformities and growth deformities,” Doctor at HSHS St. John’s Hospital Douglas Carlson said.
Hurler’s Syndrome has no cure but there is a treatment and in order to find Drake's treatment, his family left Chatham for Minnesota.
The treatment, plus doctors visits and exams has made the financial situation difficult on the family.
“You know, one of the main doctors here we had a conversation with and he told us he would approximate for the whole procedure to be a million dollars,” Drake’s dad, Darren Lucas said.
Lucas is the guidance counselor at Pleasant Plains High School. One of his coworkers heard about the situation and they wanted to raise some money for the family.
“We are going to do the world's largest game of catch,” Farmingdale Elementary School teacher Kris Ragle said.
But the Lucas family still needs the community's help.
“Well, in order to break the record, we are going to need over 2,000 people. Right now, we have about 300 people signed up,” Ragle said.
Lucas said he is so thankful for what the community is planning.
“Not only an event, but this is going to be a pretty big event,” Lucas said. “You know, they support us and love us and it means the world.”
The world's largest game of catch will take place at Pleasant Plains High School on September 9.
You can sign up here.
See more information on the Facebook page here.
And donate to Drake’s GoFundMe page here.
