I am so excited to have the chance to join the Windy Angels team for the 2019 Chicago marathon. My family has been involved in the Angelman Syndrome community since my younger brother, Luke, was diagnosed with AS as an infant. Anyone who knows Luke can attest to his incredible empathy, his desire to form meaningful relationships, his quest to communicate, and his unparalleled enthusiasm for gummy candy. 

From research studies to speaking in the community, my family has advocated for the AS community in a myriad of ways over the years, and I can't wait to have the chance to give back through running in my new city. I am currently living in Chicago and attending Northwestern's Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, and am learning more than ever before about the importance of resources for families affected by rare conditions like Angelman Syndrome. 

This will be my second marathon, and I could not imagine a better cause to be running for than the Angelman Syndrome Foundation. We are at such a pivotal time, in terms of research and mobilization, and what we need now are the funds. Your donations will go towards research into discovering drug treatments for AS as well as opening AS clinics in hospitals around the country. AS is a rare condition, affecting only 1 in 15,000 live births, and as a result we are in need of advocates and donations. We have identified the UBE3A gene responsible for AS, and now we need the manpower and money to make a treatment. 

Help us to be the cure- as a graduate student, I know every dollar counts, but your donations have the power to bring about an incredibly impactful change for Luke and the rest of our community. Please also consider reading more about Angelman Syndrome so you can be an advocate and help us educate more people about AS: 

https://www.angelman.org/what-is-as/