Rett Syndrome Foundation's Sixth Annual Strollathon

The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) will host its sixth annual St. Louis Strollathon on Sat., May 4 with registration starting at 9 a.m. and the walk beginning at 10 a.m.  The one-mile family-friendly stroll, which will be held at Tilles Park’s Gloria Rodgers Shelter located at 9551 Litzsinger Rd. in Ladue, includes a visit from
Fredbird, entertainment and food.  All proceeds will benefit Rett Syndrome research. 

Each year’s event has had 500+ participants, and more than $300,000 total has been raised for the past five walks.  Last year a record 25 Strollathons took place throughout the country and raised $1 million for the foundation, making the fundraising effort’s grand total of
nearly $8 million nationwide for research over 10 years.

Original Harlem Globetrotter Charles “Choo” Smith, Jr. will serve as National Honorary Chair for the event.  Choo’s goddaughter Kaylee was recently diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.  Her dad, Alonzo, is a long-time friend and
business partner.

Rett Syndrome (RTT), a genetic neurological disorder that occurs mainly in girls, affects more than 200,000 females worldwide.  RTT strikes in early childhood and results
in a regression leading to lifelong impairments including speech loss, hand use and mobility.  RTT is often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy and has no cure. 

The gene that causes RTT was discovered in 1999 and, in 2007, research proved the theory of reversibility in mice.  Human clinical trials began in Boston in 2010 to improve and possibly reverse the disorder’s progression. 
Research is currently focusing on multiple disease-modifying human clinical trials.

IRSF is the world’s leading private, non-profit organization that has funded more than $24 million for research to date.

Donations are appreciated.  For more information, call Strollathon chair Joyce Opinsky at (314) 878-0868, e-mail her at stlstrollathon@gmail.com, or visit the organization’s web site at www.rettsyndrome.org.