Magnolia’s High Meadow Ranch Golf Club will host the “Tee It Up For Rett” golf tournament, part of Kevin (right) and Clint (left) Black’s “Spending Time Ending Rett” benefit on Monday, Oct. 24. This is the seventh year for the golf event.

Since the loss of Kevin’s 16-year-old daughter, Cortney, to Rett syndrome − a devastating neurological disorder − the Black brothers have been champions for the cause. Clint acts as Honorary Chair for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation’s (IRSF) "Research to Reality: Funding Progress.”

Kevin says their motive, outside of helping fund a cure, is simple. “The whole idea is to create awareness of Rett syndrome for families that are suffering from Rett and don’t even know it. When you don’t know what a child has, you can’t get the proper treatment; you can’t get the help.”

One of the most tell-tale signs of Rett syndrome is unusual hand movements. Seemingly harmless hand-wringing or head-tapping can be an indicator of the disorder. With Cortney, Kevin states it was continual reaching; “It was always like she was saying ‘Pick me up! Pick me up!’”

At 16 months of age, doctors at The Blue Bird Circle Rett Center at Texas Children’s Hospital diagnosed Cortney with Rett.

Striking all races and ethnicities, the neurological developmental disorder is caused by a gene mutation (MECP2) on the X chromosome. Loss of communication skills is common; thus, the girls are called “Silent Angels.” Loss of productive hand movement and motor skills, gastrointestinal/nutritional, cardiac problems, breathing issues and seizure disorders are all associated with Rett in varying degrees of severity.

For the past four years, Clint Black has joined his brother’s determination to help fund efforts to find a cure, or reversal, for the disorder that claimed his niece. While appearing on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice in 2009, Clint raised $20,000 for the cause and fostered an already-present friendship with Olympic Gold Medalist, Scott Hamilton. Hamilton, on the board of The Pioneer Fund, then secured a $1 million contribution for IRSF.

“The effort to find a cure is paramount,” Clint says, regarding the mission of IRSF. “To go beyond that, [is] to raise awareness for the families so they can stop chasing their tails and learn what they’re dealing with.”

“Spending Time Ending Rett” begins with the “Reeling it in for Rett” fishing tournament in Seabrook on Friday, Oct. 21.

Sunday is an action-packed day, beginning at 1 p.m. with the third annual “Stroll Across Texas” stroll-a-thon. Participants will be able to join Rett children and parents as they make their way through historic downtown Conroe, ending at Founders Plaza where, at 3 p.m., Kevin’s son Coleton Black will be featured during the Young Singer/Songwriter Showcase, along with twelve additional accomplished musicians. The highlight of the three-day event is the concert at the Crighton Theatre, featuring Clint, Kevin, brother Brian and Coleton. 

All proceeds from “Spending Time Ending Rett” go to IRSF.

Kevin says he looks forward to the day “when it’s just gonna take that ‘one more dollar,’” and, like all Rett parents, feels that day can’t come soon enough.

To register for the tournament, visit www.SpendingTimeEndingRett.com. Or contact Mike Harmeier at 713-823-5913 or Rene Kelso at 713-291-6854.

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