During Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month, Cure SMA says it’s made impressions on millions of people, both face to face and via social and traditional media.

The organization, which is dedicated to SMA research and finding a cure, says #CureSMA was the top-trending topic on Facebook for the weekend of Aug. 8-9. That activity surge coincided with Cure SMA’s annual candlelighting event, for which families and friends across the country light candles to honor loved ones with SMA.

CureSMA also reported that it has reached its August goal of raising $1 million to support families affected by SMA and to fund research programs.

CureSMA pointed out other milestone events coinciding with Awareness Month, including the organization’s partnerships with nine baseball teams across the country to promote awareness of SMA, and an ABC News report from Detroit news anchor Stephen Clark, whose young granddaughter has SMA.

On Aug. 13, Katie Myers, mother to an 18-month-old with SMA, posted a picture to Facebook of her son Kaden playing in his wheelchair with an unidentified older boy at a children’s science center. Myers thanked the boy for playing with her son and for helping Kaden work one of the science center’s exhibits. That photo has been liked nearly 250,000 times and been shared more than 57,000 times.

To keep up with SMA Awareness Month happenings, visit curesma.org/sma-awareness-month.html.