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Five years ago, we set out to create a t-shirt that a group of 40-somethings could wear out to a local St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl. The idea was to design a shirt that would not only be suitable for a St. Paddy’s Day celebration but also solicit questions about the rare syndrome that our son Jack was diagnosed with, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS). It was our hope that we would be able to spread a little awareness for those like Jack, living with the challenges of PMS, while we enjoyed a night out with friends. With the help from a dear friend, PHELAN LUCKY was born.

We created a booster campaign for ease of ordering and very much to our surprise, the campaign blew up! Not only were our friends and family supporting, but so were other families affected by the syndrome - and their friends and families. After four campaigns, almost 10,000 shirts sold in 19 different countries, and almost $164,000 raised, PHELAN LUCKY has taken on a life of its own. Today, not only are PMS family and friends sporting the shirts to support the efforts of PMSF (the foundation that supports families living with PMS), but Irish folks and the aspiring Irish, pub dwellers and even a few celebs have been known to rock a PHELAN LUCKY shirt… and it’s not just in March. People all over the globe, all year long, are wearing their PHELAN LUCKY garb to help us raise awareness for this little-known syndrome.

PMS is a rare genetic syndrome caused by a deletion or mutation on the q arm of chromosome 22. Individuals with PMS are often diagnosed with autism or autism-spectrum disorders. They also frequently have severe cognitive disabilities, are nonverbal and have a propensity for seizures and sleep disorders, in addition to many other behavioral and medical issues. Currently, around 1,700 individuals are diagnosed with PMS worldwide; there are likely many more, but PMS often goes undiagnosed.

The good news is there is potential for therapeutics and a cure. Science is moving at a rapid pace and PMS is on the cusp of innovative and crucial research. But the cost of progress and the science that leads to it is steep. Buying a PHELAN LUCKY shirt makes a critical difference—you help create a better quality of life for kids like Jack and you help the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation forge ahead in the world of science. Will your contribution be the tipping point?

Phelan Lucky,

Jen & Eric Randolph and everyone at PMSF