August is national Spinal Muscular Atrophy awareness month. SMA is fatal genetic disorder that causes a baby's muscles to waste away.

Sunday, nearly 200 people gathered at the Academy of Holy Names for a candlelight vigil for Billy Therriault. Billy is only eight-months-old and suffers from SMA.

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Billy's aunt, Sarah Biscone said, "He doesn't have much movement with either his legs or his arms. And the reason is because he doesn't produce SMN protein which we have in our spinal columns."

Albany Molecular Research is working to develop a cure for SMA, but for children like Billy it's a race against time.

For more information on SMA, visit the FightSMA website, or the Understanding SMA website.