This year’s Sprint4Syngap was held on April 26, 2025. This recap is made possible by the wonderful contributions of some of our SRF families and volunteers. Team Myla Tavilla led the way again this year with a whopping $161,250 raised, while the next four highest teams added another $70,000 toward critical SYNGAP1-related disorders (SRD) research. SYNGAP1 parents and volunteers Liz Werner, Eric Moulton, Erin Starr, and Zoe Bailey share their reasons for participating in the 5th annual virtual fundraiser and what made their events unique, fun, and successful!
Liz Werner
Team Erin
Raised: $25,900, (including a pending $15,000 employer matching donation)
What an incredible day! When we created Team Erin, we had no idea what to expect. Initially, we hoped to have a few dozen people participate and raise a few thousand dollars. This experience far exceeded all our expectations! Over 80 friends, family members, and families from the Illinois SYNGAP1 community came out to join Team Erin for our very first Sprint4Syngap 5K Fun Walk/Run.
While the competition for first place was fierce, the sense of community and support was truly felt from start to finish. Participants ran, walked, and cheered from the sidelines of the 5k route. After crossing the finish line, we gathered in the pavilion to enjoy sandwiches, chips, and cookies. We relaxed and enjoyed conversation, and the kids played lawn games, blew bubbles, and ran around enjoying the sunny spring weather.
We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support, from our generous donors to every single person who showed up for Team Erin and helped raise funds to support the critical work of the SynGAP Research Fund.
We received Erin’s SYNGAP1 diagnosis only days before last year’s Annual Sprint4Syngap. As a newly diagnosed family, we were inspired by the strength and unity of the SRF community’s efforts to raise funds and awareness. This year, we are honored to be part of this powerful community and to have had the opportunity to host a Sprint4Syngap event in Illinois.
This is only the beginning for Team Erin! We’re already excited for next year!
Eric Moulton
Phoebe’s Fight
Raised: $26,438
2025 marked the third year that Phoebe’s Fight hosted Sprint4Syngap in Washington DC. As in past years, dozens of family members, friends, neighbors, and supporters from DC, Virgina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania joined us to show support for Phoebe and the SYNGAP1 community.
This year’s event was extra special because we were able to host it at Phoebe’s school where she is in Pre-K3. School staff, administrators, and Phoebe’s teachers graciously donated their time to help set-up, make popcorn, play music, and paint faces. The highlight was a performance by students wearing the SRF colors of blue, green, and purple. They sang, danced, and read poetry highlighting the value of those with disabilities.
In addition to our online fundraiser, we raised several thousand dollars during the event by raffling goods and services (e.g., photography session, custom cupcakes, wine club, and more) donated by local business owners who know Phoebe and her story. SYNGAP1 was also adopted as this year’s annual cause by the school’s student government, so Phoebe’s classmates have been raising money for several months now.
Although planning for and hosting the event was physically and emotionally taxing, it was undoubtedly a success. We strengthened our local SYNGAP1 community, increased awareness about SRD, and raised funds to help accelerate therapies for Phoebe and the rest of our kids. This year’s outpouring of support from Phoebe’s school (the students, staff, and families) was especially heartwarming.
Erin Starr
Team Daisy
Raised $12,225
We hosted a Sip for SYNGAP1 at LA Ale Works where anyone who donated on our fundraising page could join us to learn more about SYNGAP1 and get their first beer on us! We had pizza and cookies as well as a very small raffle. Everyone who came – about 25 people – received a drink ticket and raffle ticket.
The SYNGAP1 community motivated me to host our first fundraiser because I felt that even on a small level, I could do something to help move the needle towards helping our kids. A lot of the time, I feel very reactive – Daisy has something come up and I need to figure out how to make it better, or easier, or different. Hosting a fundraiser made me feel I had ownership over something and it was me driving the change. I know so many people through the SYNGAP1 community who are pushing every single day and fighting for our kids and I felt that I had to do something to help in that fight.
I was so scared, and anxious leading up to the event because I am not comfortable in any way, shape, or form talking to people, much less hosting an event asking for money – but at the end of the day I realized that I have to step up and join people who are fighting for our kids. It took me a long time to feel that this was something that I could do and now that I’ve done it, I’m so excited to do more. I also really wanted to thank every single person who donated, and so the Sip for SYNGAP1 event really spoke to me – it was a celebration for our fundraiser and a chance to connect with people, share information, and hopefully build a foundation that will support and grow our event moving forward.
Zoe Bailey
Team Kaia – One Lakes Second Annual Sprint4Syngap Fun Run
Raised $6,785
Sprint4Syngap 2025 was one for the books!! Unlike last year, when both Earl and I carried a deep heaviness and shed tears throughout the day, this year felt lighter and more hopeful. That shift is a true testament to the personal growth we’ve each made, the progress we’ve achieved together as a family, and, most importantly, the incredible strides Kaia has taken — made possible by SRF-funded research that identified a promising repurposed drug. We’re also deeply grateful for the strength we’ve found in a community that supports us and continues to SPRINT beside us.
For this year’s event, we started preparing months in advance—both emotionally and logistically—which allowed us to organize more intentionally and thoughtfully. With help from our tech-savvy family members, we hand-delivered our awesome flyers throughout the community, raising awareness and inviting participation. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of neighbors, local businesses, and fellow special needs families who donated raffle prizes and funds. We even had the Bubble Lady donate a show and a local taco truck offer 50% of proceeds for all sales made at the run. The event truly felt like a celebration of inclusion and progress—brimming with optimism, connection, and a growing sense of community.
One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing how much stronger our village has become. It showed in the people who came: Kaia’s very first teacher who supported us while we were still navigating her early delays, and her current teacher, who loves Kaia wholeheartedly and created her daycare with a focus on nature-based inclusion. Our amazing nanny and her husband, who have become family, stood there with us and made the incredible balloon arch. Next-door neighbors, lifelong friends/family of 30+ years, coworkers, members of the special needs community, Kaia’s aunt and uncle, her proud grandparents, energetic neighborhood kids eager to race—even curious passersby who joined in on the spot. Two fellow SYNGAP1 Warriors—Greyson and Hope—and their families each drove many hours to participate! Greyson’s mom, Jess, was instrumental in bringing the event to life, supporting us as a close friend, designing shirts, and gathering swag. It was a moving reminder that we are not alone on this journey—and that our village is both growing and deepening in love, understanding, and commitment.
Compared to last year—when we first shared Kaia’s diagnosis with our broader circle—this year was marked by a deeper sense of gratitude and strength. Our involvement with SRF and the SYNGAP1 community over the past year has brought real hope, drive and excitement, especially with clinical trials on the horizon!
We left the day feeling deeply seen, supported, and full of gratitude for this incredible village. And together, we raised nearly $7,000 for SYNGAP1 research and awareness. We can’t wait to see what next year brings.
Winner of the Rifton Bike Giveaway: Stacey Miller (Jack)
Save the Date for Next Year’s Sprint4Syngap – April 25th, 2026!
Check out our Sprint Resources Guide & start planning your event!
