My brother Eric Tempesta is an incredible man. Nothing ever came easy to him, and nothing slowed him down.

Born with a heart condition, Eric underwent 4 surgeries at Children's Hospital in Boston and went on to lead an incredible life, making great friends along the way and being an incredible son - and brother to me.

While studying abroad, Eric met the person who would become his beautiful wife, Laura. The two went on to date, Laura from Pennsylvania, Eric from Massachusetts, and eventually married. They were absolutely inseparable. Joined at the hip.

Their first child, Peter, was born as a smiling and bouncing baby boy. Eric and Laura were incredible parents, raising an incredible little boy who, like his dad, loved The Beatles and could draw a map of the world and tell you where every Interstate leads.

A few years later, Eric and Laura brought two beautiful twin girls into the world. Ava & Juliana Tempesta. They were so beautiful, so peaceful, and Peter was a proud brother.

As time passed, they realized the girls were having a little more trouble than they should have, and as many Rett parents before them, they were given the news. The girls share an identical mutation in the MECP2 gene. They have Rett Syndrome.

All of a sudden, being incredible parents is not enough. Eric & Laura rose to the occasion to fight for the girls that they loved so dearly, and went from incredible to extraordinary.

Now 7-years-old, the girls do struggle with severe developmental challenges, including lack of speech, they are incredibly sharp and eager to communicate.

Together with other Rett families, their goal is to do whatever it takes to come to a treatment and a cure.

The family has walked the Stroll-A-Thon in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to raise money for IRSF, raising over $8000 last year alone!

In a total blessing, the girls were selected to be a part of the first clinical trial of a drug that could possibly improve the girls development and symptoms, ironically at Childrens Hospital in Boston, the same hospital that saved Eric's life so many years ago.

If it wasn't for the incredible Rett Community and their support of IRSF, there wouldn't be so many scientific advances. It is a foundation near and dear to my heart, and my family's heart.

Last year, in an incredibly tragic event, we lost my brother Eric. He was an incredible man who would do anything for his family - and did. This year, I want to walk in his shoes during Stroll-a-thon, for my beautiful nieces, and my superhero of a sister-in-law who has done unbelievably in the face of tragedy.

Any donation you can provide, no matter how small, will go a long way for IRSF who has an outstanding record with Charity Navigator as a responsible and well run charity.

Thank you so much for your time, and contribution! Pass it on!