Valentine's Day Run at North Park to Benefits Remi Savioz Glut 1 Foundation

Remi Savioz Glut1 Foundation will sponsor its Valentine’s Day 5K and 5-Miler for the second year in a row on Saturday in North Park to raise awareness and funds for the rare disorder.

All proceeds benefit the Remi Savioz Glut1 Foundation (RSG1) and RSG1 Brain Fund at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

The rain-or-shine race for runners of all ages and experience levels will start at 10 a.m. at Boathouse. The top three male and female finishers in different age groups will be recognized—19 and younger, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.

"The Remi Savioz Glut 1 Foundation was founded in January 2010 by Samra R. Savioz (Remi's mother) to raise awareness of the disorder, as well as to raise money to support much-needed research on the cause and treatment of Glut 1-DS," according to the foundation's website.

"The Savioz family began this mission after being told by researchers that little could be done due to the lack of funding for Glut1 DS."

Registration is $20 per runner. Runners who pay a $30 registration fee will receive a long-sleeved T- shirt. The registration deadline is Friday at midnight. Late registration will be $40.

Same-day registration will begin at 8 a.m. Online registration is encouraged and available at www.valentinesday5k.kintera.org. Those not seeking to run can participate in a virtual run or walk.

All proceeds benefit this local, volunteer-staffed nonprofit organization that has no paid employees.

Race sponsors are New Balance Sports Monitors, Heinz, Eat'n Park, Emergen-C, Road ID, Raw Indulgence and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Elite Runners & Walkers will provide the course, and Runner’s High will provide the timing.

The mission of the Remi Savioz Glut1 Foundation (RSG1) is to fund research, awareness and education of Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency Syndrome and other diseases such as cancer, epilepsy and diabetes affected by glucose transporters.

Remi Savioz, 13, of Franklin Park was diagnosed with the rare brain disease at age 8 after a lifetime of seizures, speech and language delay, renal complications, movement disorders and cognitive impairment.

The RSG1 Foundation provides assistance and support to its broad patient community, providing educational tools for students and school districts that teach children to make a positive impact and teach adults about rare diseases through “Kids Helping Kids” and “Learning in the Lunchroom" programs.

RSG1 seeks to fund adolescent patient assistance programs in Pittsburgh and other regions with its “Scales for Patients Program.”

The foundation created the RSG1 Brain Fund at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC to serve patients and the medical community at large. RSG1 will continue to develop and fund programs in Pittsburgh for children with rare brain diseases and children who have epilepsy and are not responsive to traditional drug therapy.

"The foundation will continue to work toward its mission until no child remains without a treatment, cure, proper diagnosis or whose lives are improved and enriched by our efforts," the website states.

For more information, contact info@remisglut1foundation.com.

Pine-Richland Patch encourages readers to submit information about happenings in the community. The information above was submitted by Samra Savioz on behalf of Remi Savioz Glut1 Foundation. If you have news you'd like to share about your group or event, please email the information and photos to Editor Cindy Cusic Micco at cindy.micco@patch.com.