JAR of Hope Foundation, which combats a very rare disease that kills children, continues to enlist more Metropolitan-Area companies in its efforts.
The newest corporate enrollees on JAR of Hope’s growing list are Natural Body Inc., with four locations in New York City and New Rochelle; and Apollon Gym, in Edison.
JAR of Hope was founded by Jim and Karen Raffone in 2013, after their son James Anthony (“Jamesy”), then four, was diagnosed with a rare muscle-wasting disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This disease affects only children. Because the disease is so rare, most pharmaceutical companies don’t see a profit in researching a cure. So JAR of Hope is raising money to do it – with partners like Natural Body and Apollon.
Apollon Gym staged an event to inaugurate its new Nutrition division last week, with fitness, bodybuilding and MMA figures, and local dignitaries. And they used it to get the word out.
“Raising money is great…and, of course, it’s the end goal,” says Apollon owner Rob Samborsky. “But you can’t raise money until you first raise awareness. We’re building a comprehensive campaign that really reaches the community, to give these children a chance.”