Hillsborough Native Finishing 1K-Mile Journey

He's a bit sore, but the rewards appear to be worth it for Hillsborough native James Mangini.

Mangini, who was in Hillsborough Tuesday, is scheduled to hit New York City Thursday to finish a trek not many people could make. And he's doing it to help raise money and awareness for a cause near to his heart.

Six members in Mangini’s family on his father’s side have been affected by Parkinson’s disease–his father, great-grandfather and his three siblings, and his cousin.

"Right now, as you read this, I am in the middle of running 1000 miles raising money to help speed a cure for Parkinson’s disease," Mangini wrote on his website, 1000milemarathon.org. "Seven of my family members had Parkinson’s, including my father who was diagnosed six years ago. It’s been challenging for my father, and I’m proud to see his strength through all of this."

Mangini met with his father, James Mangini Jr., and stopped at his Hillsborough home on his way to New York City on Tuesday. The also honored him that day. Mangini began his trip in his current home state of North Carolina on May 7.

Mangini's father reportedly said that he was in awe of his son's trek, but not surprised.

Mangini also reportedly said that when the 1,000-mile run got tough, he thought about his father and it pushed him on.

Mangini is a Michael J. Fox Foundation/Team Fox Mentor and provides fundraising, marketing, planning and related guidance to Team Fox fundraisers, of which there are over 1,500 worldwide, according to the website.

He is scheduled to run to the Michael J. Fox Foundation headquarters on Thursday.