Move for research! With this motto, next Saturday March 11 at 12:30 pm, the BELLVITGE MUNICIPAL SPORTS CENTER “Sergio Manzano” hosted a MASTERCLASS of zumba to raise funds for research on Rett syndrome, a disease that affects 3,000 girls in all Spain, and which constitutes the first cause of mental retardation in women. The activity raised a total of one thousand euros in voluntary donations, and was attended by almost 200 people and the presence of Núria Marin, mayor of L’Hospitalet, and Christian Alcazar, deputy mayor of the city.

Coinciding with the week of commemoration of the International Women’s Day, the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), ElRetto blog (Blog for information and support to research on Rett syndrome) and the Catalan Association of Rett Syndrome joined efforts to fight a disease that causes loss of hand use, loss of language and, very often, epilepsy in patients suffering from it. The initiative received the commitment and support of the Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council and the Bellsport Sports Association from the start.

Rett syndrome is a congenital disease linked to the X chromosome. It affects 1 in 10,000 women and causes

neurological affectation that usually manifests during the second year of life. Thereafter, those affected become dependent on others for the rest of their lives. Rett syndrome can be cured, but today, financial resources are needed to ensure that biomedical research projects which should lead to the identification of molecular targets for treatment can be carried out. In this sense, IDIBELL is a leading institute in the research of this rare disease thanks to the work of a team of scientists led by Dr. Manel Esteller, Dr. Sonia Guil and Dr. Raul Delgado.