Producer Gordon Gray is facing a battle that greatly outweighs any onscreen drama in his string of hit sports films such as “Million Dollar Arm,” “Invincible” and “The Rookie.”
Gray and his wife, Kristen Kaiser Gray, have launched a social media campaign that has already gotten the support of many powerful figures in Hollywood to find a cure for their daughters, Charlotte, 4, and Gwenyth, 3, who have both been diagnosed with a rare terminal illness called Batten Disease.
“The Charlotte and Gwenyth Gray Foundation to Cure Batten Disease” aims to raise an estimated $10 million to fund a clinical trial imperative to saving their daughters and other children battling the extremely uncommon degenerative, inherited brain disorder.
In a unique Facebook push, they are challenging everyone to give $1 to the charitable fund with the aim of encouraging hundreds of millions of people to help raise awareness.
Many of Gray’s colleagues across from the film industry and the sports world have already pledged their support — and much larger donations — by spreading the news across social media.
“Magic Mike XXL” star Channing Tatum shared the inspirational story with his 17 million followers on Facebook and has already garnered 9,000 likes. Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kate Walsh, Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Renner and Gwyneth Paltrow have also all pledged their support on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #CureBatten.
Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck posted a video on Tuesday that has already been viewed almost 4,000 times.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, four children out of every 100,000 are diagnosed with Batten Disease. Symptoms leave children blind, cognitively impaired, immobile and ultimately result in death between the ages of 6 to 12.
“You’re looking at your very healthy vibrant children, who are loving life right now, who could potentially lose all of that joy in a very short time,” Kristen said in the video released to raise awareness about Batten disease.
“We have a very short window to try and save them,” she continued. “All I ever wanted to do was be a mom and to think that that could be taken away from me with both my children … is devastating.”
There is currently no treatment that will prevent the girls from getting sick.
To support the campaign on social media, the Grays recommend the following options:
I challenge every one of you to give $1 to the Charlotte & Gwenyth Gray Foundation. Together, we can help cure Batten disease and save children’s lives. Spread the word and donate herehttp://bit.ly/cure4batten.
I support @curebatten because every $ we raise helps more children live. Click here to donate http://bit.ly/
Let’s #curebatten! Make a donation today at http://bit.ly/cure4batten
Watch the video from Gordon and Kristen.