Tennessee and Kentucky Play to Raise Awareness of Rett Syndrome

By Rhiannon Potkey, Special to UTSports.com

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For more than 30 years, Karen Gardner often felt like she was living in isolation. Her daughter, Melissa, 43, was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at age 9 and few people knew anything about the disorder.

They didn't have any friends or relatives with Rett, and couldn't relate to what Gardner and her family were going through. But on Sunday afternoon, Gardner felt like she mattered.

Surrounded by a packed Sherri Parker Lee Stadium crowd, Gardner and her daughter joined two other families of children with Rett in throwing out first pitches before the Tennessee and Kentucky softball teams met in a fall ball game.

"It's just amazing to me that there is this awareness here," Karen Gardner said. "It makes me feel like people care. It makes me feel like I am not alone."

Tennessee and Kentucky joined together this fall to play two OVERPOWER Rett games to bring more attention to the condition.

Rett Syndrome is a unique postnatal neurological disorder that is first recognized in infancy and primarily impacts girls. It's caused by mutations on the X chromosome on a gene called MECP2.

The syndrome causes problems in brain function that is responsible for cognitive, sensory, emotional, motor and autonomic function.

Former Tennessee women's athletic director Joan Cronan brought Rett Syndrome to Karen Weekly's attention more than a year ago. She asked the Tennessee co-head softball coach to meet with two fathers of daughters who had Rett.

"They were trying to raise awareness for Rett and trying to raise money for research," Weekly said. "Joan thought it would be a good fit for softball since Rett primarily affects girls. It was the first I'd ever heard of Rett."

Weekly began exploring ways the Lady Vols could help champion the cause, and thought of pairing with Kentucky.

Weekly and Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson are close friends, and the two programs don't meet in an SEC regular-season series next spring.

October is Rett Awareness month, and they figured playing a fall ball doubleheader would be a perfect way to educate their fans while also improving their teams.

Kentucky hosted Tennessee on Oct. 7 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington in front of a large crowd, and the Lady Vols welcomed Kentucky to Lee Stadium in Knoxville on Sunday.

"At the end of the day, both coaching staffs are educators and this was really an opportunity for us to do a big community service project," Lawson said. "I know we really stress that in our program and I think
Tennessee does the same. I don't think I've met one person yet that has known what Rett is, so these games have really been great awareness events."

Both programs appointed leaders to help organize activities surrounding the games. Senior shortstop Katie Reed was designated for Kentucky and senior second baseman Aubrey Leach was designated for Tennessee.

Kentucky held a free carnival, face painting, facility tour and autographs during their home game.

Tennessee held a free kids clinic, with 100 girls signing up within two hours to take part in pre-game drills conducted jointly by Tennessee and Kentucky players.

"I was totally unaware of Rett and how much it impacts girls until we put this together," Leach said. "I think that is why this is so special because it's not a very well-known disease and it's not really put out there much. But I hope we can bring some awareness and get it promoted, not only just this game but keep it going throughout the season."

Having two SEC programs put aside any differences and come together for a bigger cause than sports resonated with Reed.

"In the game we are competitors, but doing something like this helps us both put things in perspective about what is important in life," Reed said. "People are battling things like Rett Syndrome and we can use our platform to raise awareness and help them."

As Tennessee's players became more educated about Rett, Weekly could see the impact the awareness campaign was having on them.

"They all watched a video that showed some family members talking about Rett and how it affects their lives and I think it really touched them," Weekly said. "Just the understanding that Rett doesn't have too many voices working on its behalf I think made them realize how much they could help. I think they grabbed on to the fact these girls and their families need a voice."

During the free kids clinic, the Tennessee and Kentucky players were all wearing shirts that said "OVERPOWER RETT" in their respective team colors.

Standing in the outfield, Lawson looked around at the different stations filled with smiling young girls.

"One of these kids will hear about Rett and might one day become a scientist and might be the individual who finds a cure," Lawson said. "You never know who that person is going to be. The more lives you can touch, the more opportunity you have to do great in the world."

University of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee and Kentucky Play to Raise Awareness of Rett Syndrome

Players Mentioned

Aubrey Leach

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