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New Jersey Father Raising Funds, Awareness For Son's Illness One Push-Up At A Time

MANALAPAN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A central New Jersey father is doing everything he can to bring awareness to the debilitating disease his son is battling.

James Raffone founded "Jar of Hope" to raise awareness and support research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

New Jersey Father Raising Funds, Awareness For Son's Illness One Push-Up At A Time

As 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet reported, Sept. 13, 2013 is a day Raffone will never forget. It was the day his son Jamesy, who was 4 years old at the time, was diagnosed with Duchenne.

"The most progressive form of muscular dystrophy," he said. "To date, there is no cure and there is no stabilizing drug."

Now, Raffone has launched a fundraising campaign, completing 10 push-ups for a $10 donation in 79 different gyms over 79 weeks in an effort to find a cure.

To donate to Jar of Hope's pushup fundraiser, click here.

The fundraiser is in its fifth week and Raffone has enlisted 47 gyms so far. Raffone said the initiative has already raised about $18,000.

"To have this outpouring of affection from everybody is overwhelming," he said.

On July 18, Raffone said Jar of Hope will try to break the Guinness World Record for largest group to do push-ups for one minute.

Jar of Hope has raised roughly $80,000 since its inception in November, 2013.

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