A Local Family Raises Awareness for Mitochondrial Disease

‘Bet on Baylee Casino Day and Auction Night’ was held Saturday at the Perry County Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The 13th annual Bet on Baylee is a fundraiser to help raise money to find a cure for Mitochondrial Disease. Baylee’s Mother, Jody Thompson said that the money raised at this event goes towards funding a cure.

“Our first year we raised $4,600 last year we raised almost $18,000,” said Thompson “So we have continuously gotten bigger and we give money like I said to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.”

‘Bet on Baylee’ held a silent auction in the afternoon, featuring items from sports members from past Ohio teams. These items included tickets, signed pictures, and equipment.

“I write to probably 300 sports figures during the year and then what we get back that’s what we put usually in our auction,” said Thompson.

Thompson said that every 30 minutes a child is diagnosed with a form of Mitochondrial Disease, and they are trying to get people to understand what this disease is.