VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach family is bringing awareness to a condition that could affect any and everyone.

It’s hydrocephalus, and on Nov. 3, you can help raise awareness and money by participating in the Walk To End Hydrocephalus.

Natasha Buchanan said her inspiration behind the walk is her 7-year-old son Zander Buchanan. He’s an active child, and by looking at him, you’d never know he has hydrocephalus.

“Hydrocephalus is the build up of spinal fluid on the brain,” Buchanan said. “Everybody has spinal fluid, but people with hydrocephalus have too much spinal fluid.”

Anyone can develop hydrocephalus — it can come from a brain injury, or in Zander’s case, from a cyst.

“He was diagnosed at around 3-months-old,” she said. “His pediatrician noticed his head circumference was kind of big, so we checked it out and found out he had a cyst on his brain.”

That discovery lead to two brain surgeries before he was even 6-months-old. Now at age 7, Zander is thriving — he has a shunt installed to help him. A shunt is a surgically implanted tube that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another part of the body. Zander’s shunt has proven successful thus far, but for others living with the condition, their journey hasn’t been easy. Shunts fail often, and there’s no cure for the condition. That’s where the Buchanan’s want to help.

“We wanted to be able to start something in our hometown that would be meaningful, but also bring people together,” Buchanan said.

So the Virginia Beach Walk to End Hydrocephalus was born. Community help is needed to make it a success.

“It’s Nov. 3 at the 24th Street Park at the Oceanfront, it starts at 1 p.m.,” she said. “Anyone can register. It doesn’t cost anything, although we obviously would love some donations.”

Donations will go to the Hydrocephalus Association’s pursuit of a cure. For more information on the walk and ways to support and register, click here.