A Manalapan dad is reaching new heights on his journey to raise awareness for a disorder that his son has battled for nearly nine years.

James Raffone will climb Mount Everest to raise awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a rare disorder that gradually breaks down muscle. It affects over 300,000 boys worldwide.

“I will tackle Everest. I will hike up the base camp to raise awareness and funds and to show the world my desperation to find a cure for this terminal illness,” Raffone says.

Most boys with Duchenne don’t live much past their teen years.

Raffone says he hopes to raise $95,000 toward clinical trials to find a cure for the illness at the University of Florida.

More information can be found at Raffone’s organization, JAR of Hope.