WAKE FOREST--Walkers and runners laced up their sneakers in support of a rare disorder that creates temporary paralysis in people at any time.

News 14 Carolina anchor Marti Skold was the emcee was at the Walk for Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, or AHC.

Several hundred people around the world are living with the disorder.

Duke University researchers recently discovered that mutations in one gene causes the disease and they hope pinpointing a cause may lead them to a cure.

As awareness for AHC grows, impacted families and doctors said it's a good feeling to see all the support.

"I've never met another child with AHC. This is the first time ever and it's like looking in a mirror," said mother Jenny Toney.

"When you see something like this where you can understand what the cause is and set a direction, it's a long direction but a direction for a treatment. There's really nothing more fulfilling for this kind of work," said Duke University geneticist David Goldstein.

Funds from the walk and 5k will benefit further AHC research.