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Help us raise money

For participating in The 2022 ASICS Falmouth Road Race

Our story…

Valeria Schenkel was born on 14 February 2018 in Switzerland. A few days after her birth, the little girl suffered her first epileptic seizure. The resulting diagnosis is devastating. Due to a de novo mutation on the KCNT1 gene, Valeria would be denied any cognitive or motor development in her life. Since then several seizures occured daily and Valeria suffered every day. Valeria's parents, Alexandra and Mario Schenkel fought for their daughter. Together with Yale School of Medicine and neurogeneticsts from Harvard Medical School (Boston Children's Hospital), they have set up a program that corrects the de novo mutation on the KCNT1 gene and stops its fatal effects. An Antisense Oligonucleotide named after Valeria - "Valeriasen" was first administered in September 2020. Valeria's seizures declined drastically but unfortunately Valeria lost her fight against her devastating disease in September 2021. Valeria has achieved many things in her short life. She has demonstrated, that drugs for orphan diseases can be developed in record time. Dosed correctly and given to other children with proper precautions and regular monitoring, Valeriasen is a promising drug. Other children are already being treated with it. Valeria has paid a very high price, but in return she has brought science a decisive step forward. Thanks to her fight for a chance in life, many children with a rare disease will be able to live a healthier and happier life.

Team members

Click on one of our team members below to make a donation.

Recent donors

Donation date Donor name Donation amount
Jun 22 David and Ellen Grosiak So proud of our niece Katherine. Memory eternal sweet Valeria $27.48
Jun 21 Sue & Larry Good Luck! Great Cause! $107.35
Jun 15 Sue Perakis May Valeria’s memory be eternal and always a blessing! $54.10
Jun 14 Katherine Perakis Undisclosed amount
Jun 10 Barbara Undisclosed amount
Jun 10 Ivo $54.10
Jun 09 Elizabeth & Andrew Very nice $54.10
Jun 08 Anonymous Your father was one of my professors when I was a PhD student and inspired me, a developmental biologist, to understand ion channels $54.10
Jun 06 Debbie Cohen Honoring the whole Schenkel Family. $107.35
Jun 06 K Mo $54.10