WashU Play-By-Play Announcer Goes 60 Miles for Rett Syndrome Awareness

11.07.2019

(St. Louis, MO, October 28, 2019)—Jay Murry began last Saturday by doing the play-by-play for WashU’s swimming and diving victory over DePauw University. He then set aside his headset microphone to begin Rett Gets Rocked 2019: Unfinished Business…a 24-hour run/walk event to raise awareness and funds for Rett syndrome.

At the end of his weekend late Sunday afternoon, Murry logged 603 laps of the Sumers Recreation Center indoor track at WashU; compiling 60.3 miles in 24 hours. And, to date, the amount of funds raised stands at $3,335.The funds will be split between Rettsyndrome.org and the Rett Spectrum Clinic in St. Louis Children’s Hospital, in the WashU School of Medicine.

The Rett Gets Rocked event was part of Rett Syndrome Awareness Month in October. Murry became an advocate for Rett syndrome awareness in 2013, when he met Ellie McCool (pictured) while working at Fort Zumwalt West High School as a special education paraprofessional. Ellie graduated from Fort Zumwalt West and is an ambassador of Rett syndrome awareness; and Murry still works there to help special needs students.

Murry’s first 24-hour run/walk fundraiser last year was part of a nationwide Rett syndrome awareness and fundraising effort that totaled $2.1 million. During the past year, three major developments occurred to help those with Rett syndrome. A drug (Trofinetide) has moved into an advanced phase of testing that will involve females with Rett. St. Louis is one of 16 cities that will host that phase this year. Also, in a recent edition of Genome Research, very early attempts of re-engineering the gene mutation that causes Rett have been encouraging. And, eye-gaze technology is becoming available to those with Rett, helping them use their eyes to have a computer tablet speak for them. Ellie McCool recently received a tablet, giving her a voice that she hasn’t had since Rett entered her life as a toddler.

Murry is in his 11th year as “The Voice of the Bears” in several WashU sports.He is known for his talent and durability. Murry is a three-time winner of the National Sports Media Association’s Missouri Sportscaster of the Year Award, and he broadcast 102 WashU sporting events in the 2018-19 school year. Murry put his durability to the test this past weekend, logging 146,709 steps as part of his 60.3 miles in 24 hours.

Donations are still being accepted at Murry’s Rett Racer fundraising page:To make a donation on Murry’s behalf, go to his Rett Racer fundraiser page:

https://rettracer.everydayhero.com/us/rett-gets-rocked-2019-unfinished-business

For more information on Rett syndrome and Rett Gets Rocked 2019: Unfinished Business, contact the following:

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