WASCO, Calif. -- Students in Wasco laced up their walking shoes Thursday morning to help those who can't.

ABC23's North County reporter Crystal Figueroa spoke with students who are taking steps against a muscular disorder that stops people in their tracks.

It's called Friedreichs Ataxia, a degenerative neuro-muscular disorder that affects one in every 50,000 people in America, but students at Karl Clemmens Elementary don't get that technical. All they know is that this disorder stops people from physically doing what they love.

Jared Laird was just 13 years old when his mom noticed something wasn't right. Jared began to lose coordination when he played sports and would lose his balance when he changed clothes. Soon, Laird couldn't play basketball or any other sport he loved.

Health officials said there is no cure and no treatment for this genetic disorder.

Laird is now 22 years old and said the only thing he can do to make it better is physical therapy.

Thursday, students at Karl Clemmens Elementary kicked off a walk-a-thon to raise money for a cure.

They hope to raise enough money to fund the research needed to find some answers.

Advocates said with more help like this, a cure could be as close as five years away.