$90K Gift To Fund Accessible Buffalo Grove Park Project In Memory Of Local Man

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — A Buffalo Grove family's decades-long advocacy for people affected by Canavan disease will leave one final local legacy through a $90,000 gift to the Buffalo Grove Park District.

Canavan Research Illinois has awarded the Park District the money for a new amenity, piece of equipment or public improvement designed to promote accessibility for people with disabilities.

The completed project will recognize both the organization and the life of Maxie Randell, a Buffalo Grove resident who was diagnosed with Canavan disease as an infant and became a medical pioneer after receiving experimental gene therapy at 11 months old.

Randell lived to age 22 and became known within the Canavan community for his courage, joyful personality and role in inspiring continued research and advocacy.

Canavan disease is a rare inherited neurological disorder that damages the brain’s white matter and interferes with the ability of nerve cells to send and receive messages. The condition can severely affect movement, muscle control, communication, feeding and other essential functions. There is currently no cure.

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Maxie was diagnosed at 4 months old, and doctors told his family he was not expected to live past age 4. His mother, Ilyce Randell, spent years advocating for Canavan research and gene therapy, including lobbying in Washington for federal approval and funding.

At 11 months old, Maxie became what his family described in previous Patch coverage as the youngest person to receive gene therapy for a brain disease.

'A Beautiful And Fitting Legacy'

After Maxie died April 18, 2020, Randell said the family connected with the Buffalo Grove Park District to learn how they could help.

At the time, the Park District was converting benches to accessible seating, and Canavan Research Illinois contributed more than $10,000 toward that effort.

Randell said she has now made the difficult decision to dissolve the charitable organization she spent decades building, but wanted its work to end with one final project that would have a lasting impact locally.

"When Maxie was alive, bringing him to a park was extremely difficult," Randell said. "Because of that experience, we are directing an additional $90,000 toward accessible park or playground equipment."

She said her hope is that the project will make it easier for families affected by disabilities and rare diseases to experience the simple joy of going to a park and playing together.

"I think this is a beautiful and fitting legacy for Maxie," Randell said. "He loved knowing that his story and his life inspired people."

Randell founded Canavan Research Illinois to support research, treatment development and families affected by the rare disease.

Park District Seeking Another $10,000

Buffalo Grove Park District Executive Director Erika Strojinc said the exact project has not yet been selected.

"We are so thankful to the Randell and Shapiro-Nyeholt families and Canavan Research Illinois for this incredibly generous donation," Strojinc said.

She said the final project will be chosen based on community accessibility needs, available funding and the opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

"This project will carry Maxie's spirit forward by removing barriers and creating opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy the Park District," Strojinc said.

The Park District is now seeking to raise an additional $10,000 to build on the $90,000 gift.

Additional funding could allow the district to expand the project's scope, add enhanced accessibility features or choose equipment that serves a wider range of physical and developmental abilities.

Donations can be made through the Accessibility Project Fundraising link on the Buffalo Grove Park District's website at bgparks.org.