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Chocolate Bar: A Story of True Friendship

A young boy comes up with a creative way to raise money to fight the genetic condition his best friend was born with.

In Nicole Notare’s story for the November 2015 of Guideposts, we meet Dylan Siegel and Jonah Pournazarian, nine-year-olds who became acquainted some years ago while attending pre-K at a day school in Los Angeles. These two boys are the best of friends, as demonstrated by Dylan’s tireless efforts to raise money for research toward a cure for glycogen storage disease type 1b, a rare and incurable genetic condition that Jonah has battled since birth.

A retired couple discussing their life plans

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When Dylan learned of Jonah’s condition, which requires that he be fed corn starch and water through a tube in his stomach several times a day, he immediately came up with an idea to raise money to fund GSD research.


Guideposts: Jonah and Dylan proudly display their copies of "Chocolate Bar."

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Dylan’s favorite phrase to describe anything awesome is, “That is so chocolate bar!” So he decided to write a 16-page, illustrated book called Chocolate Bar, from which all proceeds would go to benefit GSD research.

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Guideposts: Jonah and Dylan relax on the Buddy Bench at school.

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Dylan’s father printed 200 copies of the book and the boys sold them all at a school event, raising nearly $6,000. But Dylan wasn’t satisfied—not by a long shot. He set his sights on raising a million dollars.


Guideposts: Dylan and Jonah pose with a copy of Dylan's book

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Dylan managed to raise another $5,000 by selling signed copies of a second printing of the book at a local mall, but it was when his parents set up a Facebook page and a website for the book that sales really took off.


Guideposts: Jonah and Dylan pose in their school's playground

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Three years later, the boys have far surpassed Dylan’s goal, raising nearly $1.2 million so far and still climbing.

Guideposts: Jonah and Dylan relax in a park.

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The Facebook page allows Dylan to connect families and educators around the world. He also gets to travel to talk to other kids about his experiences (including a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is only appropriate).

Guideposts: Jonah and Dylan celebrate the book's success.

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Dylan’s book has been purchased by good people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Many’s the author who would envy those numbers! And he intends to keep working to raise funds until a cure for GSD is found.

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