35 Years of Running for Hope: A Milestone for the MPS Community and the Lessing Family
Support for the MPS Community Takes on New Meaning Following a Historic FDA Approval
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The annual race in Babylon has raised funds and awareness for the National MPS Society for 35 years. This year, it follows the approval of the first treatment for the rare disease that affected the siblings who inspired it.
BABYLON, N.Y., Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Post Office Café will host its 35th Annual 5K Run & 1K Fun Run on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 130 West Main Street in Babylon, N.Y. The Lessing’s Hospitality Group restaurant started the race to honor Mark and Casey Lessing, who were affected by mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPS IIIA), also known as Sanfilippo syndrome type A. Proceeds of the race will benefit the National MPS Society.
For the first time in the history of the race, runners will gather knowing there is an approved treatment for MPS IIIA. On September 17, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Fayuvi (rebisufligene etisparvovec-hopf), a gene therapy developed by Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and the first approved treatment for the disease.
For families who have waited for this news, including the Lessing family, the approval represents a significant milestone and reflects the collective effort behind progress in rare disease research. For decades, families, advocates and communities across the country have organized races, fundraisers and other events to raise both awareness and critical funding for MPS research. The Post Office Café 5K race has been part of that effort for 35 years, and this breakthrough demonstrates how sustained community support can contribute to research and progress that once seemed out of reach.
An Annual Tradition Rooted in Family
The race began as a local effort in honor of Mark and Casey Lessing. Since then, it has become a lasting Long Island tradition. Every fall, the event brings together the Lessing family, employees, friends, runners, volunteers and members of the local community to support the National MPS Society and its work on behalf of individuals and families affected by MPS and related diseases.
“Learning that the FDA approved a gene therapy for MPS IIIA brought a rush of emotions,” said Mark Lessing, Executive Vice President of Lessing’s Hospitality Group. “My wife and I lost our children, Mark and Casey, many years ago, and we always knew a treatment would come too late for them. But so many families facing this devastating disease finally have hope. As the Post Office Café 5K turns 35, the news couldn’t have come at a better time. My family and I are deeply grateful to everyone who has made this race possible, and proud to know we’ve made a real impact on the MPS community.”
What the FDA Approval Means for Families
MPS IIIA is a rare inherited disease that progressively damages the brain and nervous system, primarily affecting children. Until September 2026, families had no FDA-approved treatment designed to change the underlying course of the disease. Fayuvi is a one-time gene therapy approved to treat the neurologic manifestations of MPS IIIA in pediatric patients with preserved neurodevelopmental function.
The National MPS Society has championed the scientific pathway behind Fayuvi for more than 15 years. In sharing the news with the Post Office Café race community, Leslie Urdaneta, MSW, LCSW, Director of Family Support for the National MPS Society, recognized the role that decades of community fundraising have played in advancing MPS research. “Every donation, every registration, and every mile you’ve run, walked, or rolled helped fund the research that brought us here,” Urdaneta wrote. “Whether this is your first year or your thirty-fifth, YOU are part of this approval.”
Recognizing the People Behind the Progress
The 35th race is a chance to recognize the many people who made this progress possible. Researchers, physicians, clinical trial participants, families, advocates and donors have each played a role, along with the generations of runners and volunteers who have taken part in the Post Office Café 5K race on Long Island.
The Work Ahead
While this approval represents an important breakthrough, the work continues. Families affected by other forms of MPS and related diseases are still waiting for effective treatments, and the National MPS Society continues to support research, advocacy and programs on their behalf.
Event Details
What: Post Office Café 35th Annual 5K Run & 1K Fun Run
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Where: Post Office Café, 130 West Main Street, Babylon, NY 11702
Time: The 1K Fun Run starts at 9:30 a.m. and the 5K Run starts at 10 a.m.
Beneficiary: National MPS Society
Registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Babylon/PostOfficeCafe5k
About Lessing’s Hospitality Group
Founded in 1890 by Maxwell Lessing in New York City, Lessing’s Hospitality Group began as a single lunch counter in Manhattan and has grown into one of the largest hospitality companies in the Northeast and Florida. The sixth-generation, family-owned company operates more than 120 locations, including more than 20 exclusive wedding and catering venues, more than 20 full-service restaurants, more than 80 corporate and academic dining centers, a historic inn, a presidential yacht and a fully operating ranch. For more information, visit lessings.com.
About the National MPS Society
For more than 50 years, the National MPS Society has been dedicated to searching for a cure for Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and Mucolipidosis (ML), and to supporting individuals and families affected by these rare, progressive genetic diseases. Today, the Society serves more than 2,800 households across the nation through research funding, family support programs, education, and community-building—working toward a vision in which every person with MPS or ML has access to a treatment that works, and no family faces this disease alone. For more information, visit mpssociety.org.
Media Contact
For all press inquiries, email press@lessings.com
Please visit www.lessings.com or https://www.postofficecafe.com/ for more information
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ef402aa9-d333-407d-880a-b61eb87b90c8
