A Hillsborough native is getting closer to finishing a 1,000-mile trek to raise funds and awareness to a cause near to his heart.

James Mangini is arriving at his hometown today after running from his current location in Charleston, S.C., on his way to New York City.

Why is Mangini running such a great distance? To raise money and awareness for Parkinson's disease, which has greatly impacted his family.

Mangini's website 1000milemarathon.org, where he blogs while running approximately 35 miles a day for 30 days, details his goals, and why he chose to run.

"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 the site. "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."

His father, James Mangini Jr., also has a blog on the site. 

According to his site, 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, cousin, and possibly himself.

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.

Fighting Parkinson's isn't his only cause. The site also says he provides a scholarship for one Charleston Southern University student each year and serves on the Board of Visitors. It also says he volunteered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Burgdorf Junction Fire Suppression Effort in 2000 and lived in the mountains for 30 days to assist in fighting wildfires in Burgdorf Junction, Idaho.

Mangini started his run May 7 in South Carolina. On Tuesday, he makes his way to his hometown. A proclamation is being presented to him at the Hillsborough Family YMCA at 4 p.m.

Following the proclamation, he will visit his father's house in the township. On Thursday, he will cross the George Washington Bridge into New York City and run to the Michael J. Fox Foundation headquarters to end his 1,000-mile journey.

AT&T has helped sponsor Mangini in his run with a Sierra mobile hot spot and unlimited data as he posts to his site, blogs, and returns emails from those interested in his trek and cause.

Other sponsors, according to information from AT&T, include Google, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Those looking to donate can head here.