TEMPLE, Texas — For the second year in a row, Temple man Todd Cavanaugh hosted the 'Jeep-Or-Treat' event to raise awareness about Emanuel Syndrome and give back to the Central Texas community.
Cavanaugh's son, Austin "JAK" Cavanaugh, was born in 2014 and was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Emanuel Syndrome when he was nine months old.
Over 75 Jeeps were parked at the Temple High School Wildcat Stadium from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26, with Halloween-decorated Jeeps and loads of candy for children to eat.
"I love kids and I love sharing, especially for kids," Jeep owner and participant Jheng Jeter explained.
Cavanaugh said the amount of people who attended the event more than doubled from last year and he thanks the Central Texas community for their endless support.
"We moved here from New Jersey and the Texas people are amazing," Cavanaugh shared. "I wouldn't be able to pull something off like this in New Jersey. They've traveled from Houston and Dallas to be a part of this. It's an awesome feeling."
Included in the event were also raffles, giveaways, trophies and more.
Only about 300 people are diagnosed with Emanuel Syndrome and Austin Cavanaugh is one of them. Despite going through 27 surgeries and near-death experiences, Austin is still living and breathing today. The hope is that more people are aware of the genetic disorder and stay informed on how it affects families everywhere.
Todd Cavanaugh added that the event was a combined effort with Texas All Star Jeeps, Central Texas All Star Jeeps and 254 Jeeps.
If you would like to learn more about the rare genetic condition, click here.
To donate to the family, click here.