The University of Florida Health Professional Park was bustling with energy as Running for Research (RFR) hosted its third annual 5K Fun Run and Kids’ Races benefiting Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) research on Saturday, March 2.

With over 110 attendees, including approximately 40 children, the event brought together members of the community in support of finding new treatments for PWS, a rare genetic disorder.
The event was not just about the run; it was a day filled with activities and camaraderie. Participants enjoyed games, a dunk tank, magician, face painting, a photo booth, Gainesville Fire Rescue fire truck and appearances by Gator Cheer and UF mascots Albert and Alberta. Event sponsors Acadia Therapeutics, Trend Community, Soleno Therapeutics and EmpowerED Solutions, attended and showed their commitment to the cause.
After the races there was a picnic and social time with Jennifer L. Miller, M.D., a professor in the UF College of Medicine’s division of pediatric endocrinology.
One of the highlights of the day was the announcement that the event raised more than $220,000. This exciting amount brings RFR’s total raised funds to over $1.3 million in just five years. These funds have been instrumental in supporting critical PWS research initiatives, such as gut microbiome studies, investigative studies on hypoglycemia and clinical outcome assessment projects.
According to the UF College of Medicine division of pediatric endocrinology, PWS is a genetic condition resulting from the loss of expression of paternal genes on chromosome 15. Individuals with PWS have low muscle tone, feeding issues in infancy, multiple endocrine issues and early-onset weight gain, can have compulsive and rigid behaviors, and typically develop an insatiable appetite later in childhood into adulthood.
RFR pursues its mission of fundraising for PWS research in order to discover new medications, treatments and enhance outcomes for those impacted by this disorder. Through events like the annual 5K Fun Run, RFR demonstrates the power of community-driven initiatives that make a difference.
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