(WPDE) — June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.

It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.

One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.

Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.

Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.

“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.

There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.

The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.

More information and donation details are available at this link.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Contestants in the 2026 Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina’s Teen competitions will showcase their talents on Thursday at the Township Auditorium.

Miss South Carolina’s Teen’s Got Talent is set to begin at 5 p.m., followed by Miss South Carolina’s Got Talent at 7 p.m.

READ MORE | Miss South Carolina kicks off with preliminary rounds

The talent competitions are part of the weeklong Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization competition, which brings delegates from across the state to Columbia to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent South Carolina on the national stage.

READ MORE | Miss South Carolina’s Teen preliminary round begins

Contestants competed in fitness, evening wear, and onstage question preliminaries on Wednesday, while Miss South Carolina’s Teen contestants completed their preliminary competition on Tuesday.

Preliminary winners include:

Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

1. Jenna Huggins, Miss Clemson
2. Lindsay Jones, Miss Charleston
3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

1. Mary Kimball Osborn, Miss Palmetto
2. Chelby Drafts, Miss Golden Corner
3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Teen Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

1. Alissa Claire Rhodes, Miss Fox Creek High School’s Teen
2. Kamryn Mathis, Miss Greer High School’s Teen
3. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen

Teen Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

1. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
2. Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, Miss Ballentine’s Teen
3. Kursten Long, Miss Newberry’s Teen

The Miss South Carolina’s Teen finals are set for Friday night, while the Miss South Carolina finals will take place Saturday.

Watch the 2026 Miss South Carolina Competition LIVE at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 20. Tune in on WACH FOX 57 in Columbia, ABC 4 in Charleston, ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach/Florence, and My40 in the Upstate.