The Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s National Walk-A-Thon will return to The Woodlands on Saturday, May 16, at Town Green Park.  

In its fourth year locally, The Woodlands will join 24 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. Individuals with AS are developmentally delayed, have difficulty with balance and walking, sometimes laugh inappropriately and experience seizures. Most individuals cannot speak, and they will require care for their entire lives.

The prevalence of Angelman Syndrome is estimated as one in 15,000 live births and it occurs equally in males, females and all ethnic groups. A large portion of the AS 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-A-Thon hope that the annual walk-a-thons will raise

Debbie Sukin, CEO of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, together with her husband, urologist Dr. Steven Sukin, have a 7-year-old son, Jacob, who was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome at 14 months. 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 Walk-A-Thons in The Woodlands, which have raised an average of $70,000 annually with up to 300 in attendance each year.  

“We encourage the community to walk with us on May 16 to help support this important cause, ” said Debbie. “Each year brings us one step closer to a better life for individuals with Angelman Syndrome as we strive to bring attention to AS, raise funds for the foundation ’s efforts to find a cure, and most importantly, support others who are affected by this disorder. ”  

Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the 3.1-mile walk steps out at 8 a.m., beginning and ending at Town Green Park located at 2099 Lake Robbins Dr., between the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and the South Montgomery County Library, just across from H-E-B at Market Street.  

Participants can register the day of the event, or online at www.angelman.org  through the Houston link.

For more information about Angel-man Syndrome, visit the Web site at www.angelman.org.