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It's the 1st ever Wet Brett Challenge
Rare Disease Day ~ Monday, February 28, 2022!
Brett Matlosz is a freshman at Newark Academy and is a competitive swimmer for both Newark Academy and Metro Lifetime Fitness. He is hosting the Wet Brett Swim Challenge on Rare Disease Day this year in support of his 11 year old cousin, Sienna, who lives with an ultra rare condition, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or FOP.
Fundraiser Details
Two of Sienna’s greatest pleasures are swimming and going to the beach. Swimming is one of the few approved activities for those with FOP, because there is less risk of severe injury.
The “Wet Brett Swim Challenge” will honor Sienna’s love of swimming ~ and raise money to fund gene therapy research through the IFOPA. As part of the “Wet Brett Challenge,” Brett’s swim team will participate in a wet t-shirt challenge, wearing #cureFOP t-shirts for the entire swim practice. Swimming with a t-shirt on will make swim practice more difficult, and will symbolically serve as an acknowledgment of the difficulties faced by those living with FOP.
We hope in the future to make this a larger effort through social media, so that any individual swimmer, or swim team, across the country can participate if interested.
What is FOP?
FOP is a progressive disease where your body is slowly changing your
muscles and tendons into a second skeleton. Some bone growth is spontaneous, but bumps or trauma can also lead to flare-ups that cause additional bone growth. That bone growth progressively leads to restrictions, and often people with this condition lose mobility completely, and eventually can become locked in place.
Thank You
Those who participate in the challenge or sponsor a swimmer will be given a free #cureFOP bracelet and tattoo for their kindness and generosity.
The Wet Brett Challenge was developed by Brett Matlosz, a member of the Newark Academy Swim Team, in honor of his cousin, Sienna, who lives with FOP. The funds raised through the Wet Brett Challenge will support gene therapy research through the International FOP Association.
The Wet Brett Challenge was developed by Brett Matlosz, a member of the Newark Academy Swim Team, in honor of his cousin, Sienna, who lives with FOP. The funds raised through the Wet Brett Challenge will support gene therapy research through the International FOP Association.
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The Wet Brett Challenge was developed by Brett Matlosz, a member of the Newark Academy Swim Team, in honor of his cousin, Sienna, who lives with FOP. The funds raised through the Wet Brett Challenge will support gene therapy research through the International FOP Association.
The Wet Brett Challenge was developed by Brett Matlosz, a member of the Newark Academy Swim Team, in honor of his cousin, Sienna, who lives with FOP. The funds raised through the Wet Brett Challenge will support gene therapy research through the International FOP Association.