More than 140 people turn out and help raise more than $10,000 to help children with Sanfilippo Syndrome
The community in the greater Lansing, Michigan, area spent the morning of August 23, 2025, helping a local family raise funds to cure Sanfilippo Syndrome.
Japheth and Cloey Willmore’s 5-year-old son Clark was diagnosed with Sanfilippo in December 2024. A devastating diagnosis that upended every hope they had for Clark’s future. But they decided to fight and help Clark and other children with this terrible disease.
They planned and hosted the 2025 Cure Clark 5K at Country Mill Farms to help raise funds for Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, which support promising research to help children with Sanfilippo.
“What an incredible morning! We are overwhelmed with gratitude after today’s first Cure Clark 5K. Together, we raised about $10,145.50 for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation!!!!!! Every dollar raised moves us closer to treatments, trials, and the hope of a cure. Thank you to everyone who ran, walked, sponsored, donated, volunteered, or simply showed up to stand with us. And thank you to The Country Mill for hosting us at your beautiful farm. Seeing so many people come together for Clark reminded us that we are never in this fight alone—you’re here beside us. This was for Clark, and for every child waiting on hope.” – shared Japheth and Cloey on their “Cure Clark” Facebook page after the event.
The local Fox outlet, Fox47, featured the event among its stories that weekend.
“It is so inspiring to see the community come out in honor of Clark,” said Foundation President Glenn O’Neill. “Huge thanks to the family, volunteers, sponsors, and all who came out and supported this mission. It looks like it was the perfect day.”
About Sanfilippo Syndrome
Sanfilippo Syndrome is a terminal, degenerative disease that causes children to lose all the skills they’ve gained, suffer seizures and movement disorders, experience pain and suffering, dementia, and then die usually in their teen years. It is often referred to as being like a late-stage Alzheimer’s, but in children.
Sanfilippo is a rare genetic disease. Parents are unknowingly carriers of a genetic mutation that causes the children to have this condition. It is estimated that 1 in 70,000 births result in Sanfilippo. This equates to many thousands around the world suffering from this disease. Because it is rare, it is often left to parent-led organizations like Cure Sanfilippo Foundation to spread awareness and fund research.