This article was in our local paper on Sunday

Students holding Rett fundraiser
By Amy Oberlin

ANGOLA, IN — Brooklyn Butler is heading a team of Carlin Park Elementary School students in an April Fool’s Day fundraiser.

Dress Up 2 Cure is a national effort and Butler’s aunt, Kristin Smith, a third-grade teacher at Carlin Park Elementary School, is organizing the local drive. It is aimed at raising awareness of Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder that strikes only girls.

Brooklyn, who will be 3 in May, is one of them.

Rett Syndrome is genetic, and thought to be the most severe form of autism. It causes severe impairment and affects close to a half-million girls and women worldwide.

Dress Up 2 Cure is in its second year, an activity by Girl Power 2 Cure, started by Ingrid Harding, the mother of a girl with Rett.

“Little girls love to play dress up, so in that tradition, we are launching a fundraising event centered around ‘dressing up’ to help fight Rett Syndrome,” said Harding.

“This is a fun, silly way to highlight and combat a very serious disorder.”

Carlin Park students are raising money in support of Brooklyn through the dress-up day. Donations can be made at www.dressup2cure.org/teams08/butler/carlin.html.

Brooklyn eventually will attend Carlin Park, and next school year will start a special-needs Head Start program.

“At the first of the year, she started staying at home with my mom, which has allowed her to make great strides in her therapy program all day at home,” said Brooklyn’s mother, Kelly Butler. “We recently purchased a touch screen computer, which we have been working with her to aid in her communication.”