Non-Profit Uses Girl Power to Find a Cure for Rett Syndrome

Ingrid Harding will never forget the first day she and her daughter Sarah showed up for kindergarten at their mainstream school. Sarah has Rett Syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder that mainly affects females. Though baby girls are born normal, they start to lose acquired skills between the ages of 1 and 3. Caused by a single gene mutation that results in the underproduction of an important brain protein, Rett Syndrome leaves most girls unable to speak, walk, or use their hands.

That day, Harding asked the school administrators if Sarah could be placed in a regular class. They hesitantly agreed, and Harding had doubts herself. She wondered what the other kids and their parents would think and how they would treat her. She wondered if the teacher would be able to handle the situation and how Sarah would cope.

Harding's worries soon disappeared when she saw that Sarah's classmates wanted to talk to her and help her. She noticed that the girls were especially caring – they wanted to read Sarah stories, push her wheelchair, and pick up the things she dropped. That first day of kindergarten, Harding witnessed real girl power and knew in that moment that it would be this generation of nurturing girls that would use their talents and creativity to help find a cure for Rett Syndrome.

In 2006, Harding founded Girl Power 2 Cure, a non-profit organization dedicated to making Rett Syndrome the first reversible neurological disorder. Girl Power 2 Cure raises awareness and funds for Rett Syndrome research through events such as its annual national Dress Up 2 Cure event and Garden of Hope campaign. The charity also supports Rett families by providing them with resources and tools.

Harding currently serves as executive director of Girl Power 2 Cure. In addition, she is the co-founder and a trustee of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust.