LeROY - B.J. Zeleznik and his family have six Heart of Illinois football teams to thank after the teams raised more than $12,000 for the Fragile X Research Foundation in honor of Zeleznik's son Abe, who was diagnosed with Fragile X a year ago.

"The support from the teams - Gibson City, Tri-Valley, Fisher, Lexington, El Paso, and LeRoy - and their communities has been tremendous," said Zeleznik, who is LeRoy High School's head football coach and athletic director. "It isn't just the teens, but their communities that supported them."

Besides the donations, the Zelezniks also received letters of support from those who read about their family.

Fragile X occurs when the genetic material of one specific gene is repeated too many times. This causes the gene to turn off and it fails to make a specific protein in the brain. Scientists believe that protein may help brain cells communicate.

Symptoms of Fragile X can range learning disabilities to more severe cognitive disabilities. Other common characteristics are delays in speech, anxiety, behavior problems and physical delays.

There is no cure for Fragile X but Abe's mother, Amy, says there is promising research being done on treatments and that is why raising money for research is so important. Besides raising money for Fragile X Research, the Zelezniks hoped the effort would raise awareness in the community.

The Zelezniks remember when they received the diagnosis over a year ago. "As devastating as it was, it was also a relief to finally know what was causing Abe's delays," said Amy, who had been concerned about his development from the time he was six weeks old.

BJ remembers the date because it was during his team's season. After a particularly difficult loss, he told his team about Abe. "The kids were upset. I told them about Abe and stressed that instead of being upset, they should be thankful for the opportunities that some people will never have - the opportunity to play on a team."

BJ says the diagnosis hasn't changed his coaching. "It hasn't changed my desire for my kids to be successful." Instead, he says, it has given him another tool to help educate them.

As a way to thank the teams, Amy and Abe delivered cookies to the teams, giving them a chance to meet Abe and put a "face" on their fundraising.

B.J. says he hopes to continue the fundraising effort next year, possibly expanding it.