The "Ilan-a-thon" (http://www.ilanathon.org) is a 5K to take place on April 21, 2013, in Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD. All proceeds will benefit the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders (http://www.thegfpd.org), a parent-led 501 (c)(3) charitable organization set up increase awareness for Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorder (PBD), fund PBD-related research, and provide support to affected families. PBD is a terminal condition that affects 1 in 50,000 children, and is both emotionally and financially devastating to a family. Many  affected children do not survive their first year; the children that do survive their first years are normally both deaf and blind, and require additional medical equipment and services for feeding, mobility, and communication throughout the course of their lives. There is  currently no known cure or even treatment for the disease.

Ilan Betzer, son of Ilan-a-thon organizers Mousumi Bose and Andrew Betzer, was diagnosed with PBD at birth in August 2010. He passed away October 2011 at the age of 14 months; the Ilan-a-thon is an event that is being held to celebrate Ilan's short but poignant life.