ALEC'S STORY He now plays wheelchair sports, appears on television and is a tremendous voice for Shriners Children's everywhere he goes. With support from Shriners Children's, Alec is an active teenager pursuing his goal to become a sports anchor and broadcaster.

Alec, a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago, has become a popular television star, been interviewed on numerous national news and talk shows, and has captured the hearts of many with his adorable smile and charming personality. Alec lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and is quite the active teenager.

He was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that can frequently and easily break. He began receiving care at Shriners Hospitals for Children® - Chicago in 2002 and has made amazing progress through advanced treatments.

You should expect us to do great things, too,” says 19-year-old TV spokesperson and budding sports broadcaster Alec Cabacungan.

Shriners have stepped forward in recent years to complain about improprieties at some of the 191 local temples affiliated with the Shrine, including the commingling of charitable and noncharitable assets and the disappearance of money raised for the hospitals.

Alec, a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago, has become a popular television star and has captured the hearts of many with his adorable smile and charming personality. The Filipino American lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and is quite the active teenager.

"It'll be with me for my life. I'll live with it until I die." That's what brought Cabacungan to Shriners in the first place – a rare genetic disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease. His parents, Alma and Gill, got the news before he was born.

Babies with Type II often die soon after birth. Children with Type III may live longer, but often only until around age 10. They may also have severe physical deformities. People with Type IV generally live into adulthood but may have a slightly shortened lifespan.

Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. The approximately 525,000 member organization has a buoyant philosophy which has been expressed as "Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness." Shriners are men who enjoy life.

There are approximately 309,000 members from 195 temples (chapters) in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Republic of Panama, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. We are men of good character who enjoy camaraderie while supporting 22 Shrine Hospitals for Children.

American Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

"It'll be with me for my life. I'll live with it until I die." That's what brought Cabacungan to Shriners in the first place – a rare genetic disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease. His parents, Alma and Gill, got the news before he was born.