Missoula to host Angelman Syndrome event
Montana’s only fundraising Angelman Syndrome event
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MISSOULA — Open to the public, individuals with Angelman Syndrome and their families, friends and supporters from the greater Missoula area, Idaho, Wyoming, and the rest of Montana are invited to participate in this year’s 2023 Angelman Syndrome Foundation Walk. The walk will be held June 10, with check in starting at 10 a.m. and the walk starting at 11 a.m. out of the Missoula Fairgrounds, with food, music, and a raffle to follow. Online registration can be found here: https://support.angelman.org/event/2023-asf-walk-mt-missoula/e454454
Last year’s Angelman Syndrome Walk in Montana raised over $18,000, which directly funded support for families affected by Angelman Syndrome in Montana and surrounding areas. “There is very little awareness surrounding Angelman Syndrome. That is why we brought the Angelman Syndrome Walk to Montana for a second year,” said local MT Walk Coordinator Crystal Parker. She shared a personal video of her son, a child with Angelman Syndrome, and what it means for her family here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4i8yt0k0y67tit/ASF%20Walk%20Video2023.mp4?dl=0
Angelman Syndrome is caused by the loss of function of a particular gene during fetal development, resulting in severe neurological impairment present at birth and lasting for a lifetime. Symptoms vary and include severe developmental delays, speech impairments, seizures, walking and balance disorders, and frequent laughter and excitability. While there is no definitive count, it is estimated that Angelman Syndrome occurs in one in every 15,000 live births. An overall lack of awareness for AS among community and medical individuals often leads to misdiagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and/or Severe Autism. Driving awareness is crucial for this genetic disability, and Montana needs to know about it.
For over 30 years, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) has been dedicated to providing individuals with Angelman Syndrome and their families support through education, research, and individual resources and grants. The first ASF walk was hosted in 1999 in Naperville, IL, raising nearly $25,000 and getting more than 200 walk participants. Now, there are over 10,000 participants at more than 50 walk sites nationally. The ASF has funded over $15 million towards research grants nationally. For more information about the ASF, visit www.angelman.org.
