A family oriented event in Sugar Grove is scheduled to raise funds for mitochondrial disease.
The annual Energy for Life Walk start at the Sugar Grove Amvets Post 50, 3838 Stoney Run Rd. in Sugar Grove on Sunday, Sept. 9. Registration begins at 9:30 and the 1 mile or 5k walk starts at 10:30.
In addition to the walk, chicken barbecue will be available and music will be provided by DJ Pat and Shamus. A bounce house, balloons and 50/50 raffle are also scheduled.
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Energy For Life
An Energy For Life walk will help people like Cooper Groves who have mitochondrial disease.
"This is the third year for the walk," Organizer Jobie Groves said. "I started it because my son, Cooper, has the disease so I wanted to raise awareness of it and to collect funds to be used for research in hopes of a cure."
According to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, the disease results from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. They are responsible for creating more than 90 percent of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth.
In the past, the event brought in $21,000 each time. Groves has a goal of $25,000 this year, but it has been harder getting donations and teams this time.
Within the county, Groves said she knows her son is one of two boys who have mitochondrial disease. She's also heard of two other kids who have it and two adults from the area who do as well.
Further information is available at or by calling Groves at 814-730-97698. She can be emailed at grovesfamily5@yahoo.com.