A fundraiser at the Marion General Store hits close to home for owner Jack Cheney. This holiday season he is raffling off a gingerbread house to raise funds for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that his grandson, Caden Spirito, has.

Although little known, NF, as it is commonly called, can cause tumors to form on nerves. Those tumors can results in a loss of function and nerve pain, according to the nonprofit Neurofibromatosis Northeast. NF Northeast also states that more people have the disorder than cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. Currently, there is no cure, though surgery can help alleviate tumors.

Cheney’s daughter, Amy Spirito, found out her son had the disorder a month after he was born. Her husband, Jared, also has NF, but aside from the telltale “café au lait spots” on his skin, has no symptoms. The couple’s daughter did not inherit the disorder.

Caden, now 20 months old, was born with low muscle tone, but therapy has helped him “do the things that a twenty-month old should be doing,” said Spirito, a resident of Weymouth.

Seeing her son’s condition launched Spirito into action, and she has become an advocate for those with the disorder, raising awareness and about $26,000 for NF Northeast.

“I decided if there was no cure out there and I couldn’t control the situation, I would get out there and do everything in my power to support research,” she said.

One of the most frustrating parts of the disorder is how few people know about it.

“How are we ever going to find a cure to a disorder that so many people have never heard of?” Spirito said.

The word is getting out there, especially with Spirito’s help. She has her own fundraising page and earlier this fall held a first annual golf tournament. The Boston Pops has gotten on the bandwagon, featuring a photo of Caden and information on NF and NF Northeast in the orchestra’s program.

A woman in Marion, Spirito’s hometown, saw the page and brought it to Cheney.

“She now knows what NF is. It is getting out there,” said Spirito.

With the fundraiser at her dad’s shop, even more people in Marion will know about NF and have an opportunity to help. For $1 per ticket, General Store customers can support NF Northeast and enter a raffle for a gingerbread house, built by Lynn Parks Kuhl.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to send the proceeds to NF [Northeast],” said Cheney. “It’s been very positive.”

The house is visible in the shop’s front window, and tickets will be on sale until the raffle on Dec. 21.

Spirito said she’s thankful for the exposure.

“To be able to have my dad as a platform and to have the support of the town has been amazing.”