Greetings to friends and family.

As many of you know, I will forever feel in debt with the city of London, where my first child was born, extremely prematurely, when I was only 26 weeks pregnant. 

We were fortunate to have access to excellent health care and to be in many people's prayers.  José Lorenzo is now a bright and happy first grader! 

For the first time since he was born, we are taking him back to London.  We will be celebrating his seventh birthday in this wonderful city with my running of this year's Virgin London Marathon, to be held on April 17th.

Training for a marathon is extenuating yet incredibly empowering.  It not only enhances your mental and physical endurance, but it provides time for reflection: I want to make this, my third marathon, count.

Picking a cause to mark this event was not easy, until I came across the Rett Syndrome Research Trust. Rett Syndrome is the most physically disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. Primarily affecting little girls, Rett often strikes just after they have learned to walk and say a few words, and begins to drag their development backward. Currently there are no effective treatments for Rett. Most girls survive into adulthood and require total, 24-hour-a-day-care.

The difference between Rett and other syndromes is that there's hope! The gene that causes Rett has been identified and the condition has been reversed in laboratory experiments.  Funding is necessary to continue the research that will bring lab experiments to life and actually reverse Rett in little girls! 

I encourage you to learn more about this condition at www.rsrt.org.  I also hope you will make this marathon count for me, for José Lorenzo, and especially for the many girls who await a cure. 

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!