Angelman Syndrome Foundation walk to be held at Rob Fleming Park

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s National Walk will return to The Woodlands on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Rob Fleming Park, located at at 6055 Creekside Forest Drive in the Village of Creekside Park.

In its sixth year locally, The Woodlands walk will join 26 other cities nationwide to host this community-wide event themed “One Step Closer,” which aims to raise funds and awareness for Angelman Syndrome.

Angelman Syndrome is a neurological disorder that is largely misdiagnosed as either autism or cerebral palsy. People with Angelman Syndrome are developmentally delayed, have difficulty with balance and walking, sometimes laugh inappropriately and experience seizures. Most individuals with Angelman Syndrome cannot speak. They will require care for their entire lives.

The prevalence of Angelman Syndrome is estimated as one in 15,000 in the population. It occurs equally in males, females and all ethnic groups. A large portion of the Angelman population, especially adults and minorities, remain undiagnosed.

Angelman Syndrome was first identified in 1965 by British pediatrician, Dr. Harry Angelman. The genetic marker was identified in 1997. Angelman Syndrome is a malfunction of the ubiquitin protein gene, located in the region of the UBE3A gene on the 15th chromosome. Angelman Syndrome is of great interest as an example of genetic imprinting. Research in Angelman Syndrome will lead to further breakthroughs in the treatment and understanding of seizures, autism and many other neurological and genetic disorders.

Organizers of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Walk hope that these annual walk-a-thons will raise awareness and encourage further diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome. The money raised will be used for education, support, and medical research.

Debbie Sukin, CEO of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, together with her husband, urologist Dr. Steven Sukin, have a nine-year-old son, Jacob, who was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome when he was 14 months old. Today, his warm smile and wonderful laugh, a typical symptom of the disorder, masks the challenges that he and his family face every day.

Through the Sukin’s involvement with the Angelman Syndrome Foundation and its 26-member Houston chapter, they have helped organize the Angelman’s Walk in The Woodlands which has raised an average of $70,000 annually. Over 450 participants are expected to attend this year’s walk in The Woodlands.

“We are encouraged by recent advances toward a therapeutic cure for Angelman Syndrome that would not be possible without grant funding for basic science research,” shared Debbie Sukin. “Community and corporate support are necessary to bring us one step closer to a better life for individuals with Angelman Syndrome.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Walk include: Tom Pisula Development Company, Greater Houston Anesthesiology, Skanska, Urology Associates, The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Dr. Bruce Friedman. In-kind donations have been provided by AAA Trophy & Engraving and Liz Grimm Public Relations. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K walk steps out at 9 a.m., beginning and ending at Rob Fleming Park. Participants can register the day of the event, or in advance online at the Web site below through the Houston link or by calling 1-800-432-6435.