LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Music Student Service League and Macy's Fundraiser raises $7K for Rett syndrome


Girls from Miramonte High School came to the event to support the cause. Photos provided

The Music Student Service League (MSSL) partnered with Macy's of Walnut Creek April 28 and hosted the first annual fashion show in support of the Katie Nues Foundation. MSSL is a student-run, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to spread happiness through music, and provide support to those in need. The Katie Nues Foundation provides funding for Katie's Clinic at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, which is one of the few places in the United States that specializes in the diagnosis and comprehensive care for girls and young women with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic mutation that affects young girls' brain development, making it challenging to walk, speak and use their hands as they mature into adulthood. There are approximately 1,000 cases in the United States per year.

The fundraiser was a huge success, with over 120 members of the community showing up to support this tremendous cause at the downtown Macy's store. Paige Nues, the founder of the Katie Nues' Foundation, delivered a heartfelt message to the MSSL organization, its friends and Macy's for supporting this event.

Nues' daughter, Katie, was born in 2002 and was diagnosed with Rhett syndrome in 2003. As the Nues family endured this challenging experience, Nues realized that patients and families suffering from Rhett syndrome had a hard time finding support systems. In 2004, Katie's Clinic began to provide such support for these families on the West Coast.

The foundation's charter is to maximize the support for Rett syndrome patients and their families with the funding they receive. Also in attendance were the Blanco and Corpus family. Emily Blanco and Samantha Corpus are two courageous, strong ladies who suffer from Rett syndrome.

In speaking with Nues, she shared her praise and appreciation for this strong effort by MSSL and the major endorsement by Macy's, which generously donated $7,000 to the Katie Nues Foundation.

Without significant funding or resources from the government, it makes these types of fundraisers that much more important in providing critical support for those suffering from this syndrome.