Rett Syndrome Awareness Month May Be Ending, But Our Work Continues
As October comes to a close, so does Rett Syndrome Awareness Month. It's been a wonderful month of raising awareness, making connections, and shining a light on Rett syndrome and the pRETTy amazing individuals who live with it.
Here at the Manitoba Rett Syndrome Association, we are proud of what we've accomplished and grateful for the incredible support we've received throughout the month. We have so much to be thankful for!
From landmarks lighting up purple to people proudly wearing purple and their pRETTy awesome shirts and pins, it has been heartwarming to see so many people helping spread awareness. Our message also reached the community through advertising on a City of Winnipeg Transit bus and awareness efforts at Transcona Library.
We continued reaching out to elected officials, sharing information about Rett syndrome and the challenges individuals and families face. We also hosted our first Manitoba Rett Syndrome dinner, bringing together families, researchers, physicians, and industry partners for a wonderful evening of connection and conversation. A special thank you to Acadia Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Inc. for sponsoring this evening.
Our Ride or Stride Walk & BBQ raised more than $31,000! This wouldn't have been possible without everyone who participated, made donations, and supported the event. We are also incredibly grateful to our walk sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors: Art Magic Co. and Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Gold Sponsors: Enns Brothers, Taysha Gene Therapies, and Winnipeg Kinsmen
BBQ Sponsors: LinkWell Insurance Group Inc. and Phil's Honey
Friend Sponsor: Access Credit Union
We also wrapped up our quilt raffle this month, bringing in $1,390 in ticket sales! A very special thank you to Stella's grandma, Joy, for the beautiful handmade quilt and the incredible amount of love, time, and care she put into creating it. We are also grateful to everyone who purchased tickets, donated prizes, and helped make the raffle a success.
Our pRETTy awesome initiative continued reaching people across Canada, thanks in part to the wonderful support of provincial Rett syndrome organizations who helped share our message. Seeing this initiative embraced beyond Manitoba has been especially meaningful, and we thank everyone who wore a shirt or pin, shared our posts, or helped introduce Rett syndrome to someone new.
A heartfelt thank you as well to everyone who attended our events, volunteered their time, and supported our efforts in so many different ways.
As we often say, so much of what we do is about connections. Every conversation, new relationship, and opportunity to share our experiences helps move things forward. For a small, volunteer-run organization like ours, the kindness and generosity of our community mean so much.
We also recognize the wonderful efforts of Rett syndrome organizations, families, and supporters across Canada and beyond. It's encouraging to see so many people working toward a common goal of greater awareness, better support, and a brighter future for individuals living with Rett syndrome.
While Rett Syndrome Awareness Month may be coming to an end, our work continues year-round. The Manitoba Rett Syndrome Association remains committed to supporting families, increasing awareness, building partnerships, and encouraging research. There is still much to accomplish, and we look forward to continuing this work in the months and years ahead.
Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping make a difference. 💜