Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Suzanne Sausville
COHASSET, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A 20-year-old Marshfield man took part in the Cohasset Triathlon on Sunday to raise money and support treatment for an autoimmune disorder he and his family have suffered from.
Gino Vitelli raised funds for the JBC PANS AND PANDAS Foundation to support treatment for the condition he has suffered from for most of his life.
Vitelli took part in a three-person relay team that rode 12.1 miles by bike, ran 3.2 miles, and swam .25 miles as a part of this year's Cohasset Triathlon to raise awareness and money.
"About 1 in 200 children have PANDAS PAN so in the Commonwealth that would work out to be anywhere from 16,000 to 33,000 kids," Jennifer Vitelli, Gino's mother, told WBZ's Suzanne Sausville.
Three of Jennifer’s four sons have been diagnosed with the condition.
PANDAS/PANS are autoimmune disorders that happen when infections like strep or Lyme cause a misdirected immune response resulting in brain inflammation. The inflammation then causes children and young adults to experience mental health issues like OCD, depression, and anxiety.
Treatment tends to be expensive and costly for families as it is largely uncovered by insurance.
Vitelli said he sees a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to treatment.
"Once you get the right diagnosis it can go from seeming like everything was completely hopeless to finally having a clear solution and a means of reaching that solution," he said.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok