We are the Burch family and in 2021 our son, Sawyer, was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder called Trifunctional Protein Deficiency. There are less than 100 documented cases worldwide and to our knowledge no one living past the age of 35.

Sawyer sees the leading world specialist and researcher, Dr. Gerry Vockley who practices at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Vockley’s life mission is to find a way to cure TFP. All of his research is succeeding! However, there remains a chronic lack of funding, as all extra government funding continues to go to COVID research.

Due to this deficit in funding, we knew we had to fight for our son. With the help of our church, friends, and family, we started Sawyer’s Race for Research. We are a registered 501c3 with 100% of our proceeds always going to Dr. Vockley and his research.

In the past 4 years, our Bowling Green community has helped us donate over half a million dollars! Recently, we got the exciting news that our donations have assisted Dr. Vockley’s team to identify a pathway to a cure! As parents, we are thrilled with the hope of a cure, but this obviously entails more research and funding, so in 2026 we aren’t slowing down!

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