Tee it up! Golf benefit to benefit children with a rare disease

MUKWONAGO (WITI) -- Each day Chris Elsner gets to spend with his youngest daughter, 6-year-old Peyton, is a blessing.

"We were told that she would die before the age of two and just to take her home and make her comfortable until she passed away. They put an expiration date on her," said Elsner.

When Peyton was only four months old she was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy or SMA.

"It's just heartbreaking and you can't put it into words. It's just complete devastation," said Elsner.

It's an inherited disease that destroys the nerves that control voluntary muscle movement.

This means Peyton can't walk, move her head, even breathing and coughing is difficult.

"If she catches a common cold it could be tragic," said Elsner.

As the medical bills piled up, Peyton's aunt started the Unite 4 Peyton Foundation.

Originally it was set up to help the Elsner's, but now they use all of the proceeds to help other children diagnosed with SMA.

"I thought I have to take this and try to turn it into something positive and try to do something that was so devastating for our family and try to do good with it," said Peyton's aunt Tina Reddick.

It's been a miracle that Peyton has lived to be six years old, and so far in her short life she has made a big impact.

"I think she teaches everybody how to be more tolerant, more resilient, how to fight through the hard times, and how to love each day like it might be your last," said Reddick.

A golf benefit is being held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 6th at the Broadlands Golf Club in North Prairie. All of the proceeds go to the Unite 4 Peyton Foundation.

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