After finishing 44th out of 2,211 runners in the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, a sports announcer from WashU is going to use Halloween weekend to put a scare into Rett syndrome.

Jay Murry, the Voice of the Bears, will conduct Rett Gets Rocked 2022: Putting a Scare Into Rett Syndrome. It will take place October 29th and 30th, at Sumers Recreation Center on the WashU campus. RGR 2022 consists of Murry's solo 100-mile ultramarathon and a simultaneous 24-hour Rett Relay to help . The fundraising goal is $10,000; split between the Rett Spectrum Clinic in St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF).

The Rett Gets Rocked initiative has raised over $20,000 in the past four years, and that program helped researchers make great strides last year in two areas.

One of those developments involves the drug Trofinetide, which has been granted Priority Review status by the FDA. On March 12th, if the review goes well, Trofinetide will become the first prescription drug approved to treat some of the effects of Rett syndrome. Trofinetide has helped reduce the inflammation that causes seizures and neurological pain, and helped improve the degree of purposeful movement of the arms and legs of those with Rett syndrome.

Between 6-18 months of age, Rett takes away a child’s ability to move and communicate with purpose...leaving many children in wheelchairs and unable to speak or even use sign language for the rest of their lives. It also leaves their families devastated, as they struggle to oset Rett.

But now, Rett is on the run. With Jay Murry’s 100-mile ultramarathon attempt and the Rett Relay Halloween weekend at WashU, there is hope that a cure of Rett syndrome is within reach.

To make a donation to Rett Gets Rocked 2022: https://rettracers.funraise.org/fundraiser/jay-murry