Chromosome 18

May Newsletter

2026 Annual Family Conference

Our 2026 Annual Family Conference in San Antonio, TX is July 12th-15th — just around the corner!
Buy standalone Starfish Dinner & Dance tickets for those not participating in Conference but would like to join in on the fun. Or fundraise or sponsor a family/corporate table to pick your choice of table in the ballroom!
Interested in helping out during Conference? Check out our now-open Volunteer Portal for lots of opportunities to get more involved!
All Conference registration closes June 26th at midnight CT. No registration will be allowed after this time. Make sure to register before it is too late!

Starfish Dinner & Dance Tickets

Starfish Dinner & Dance Tables

Volunteer Portal

Book Your Room

Conference Nights Out

Nights Out registration is now open! Check out this year's incredible Nights Out themes and sign up to enjoy the company of other Conference attendees after the day’s sessions. Nights Out are optional activities that you can choose to participate in if you so desire.

Nights Out Info

Nights Out Registration

Upcoming Events

May Facebook Live - If you missed hearing from our 2026 Conference Chairs, Claudia and Ashley, as they talked all about the upcoming Annual Family Conference live on Facebook May 18th at 6pm CT, you can watch the recording here.

Connect with Dr. Cody: Clinical Research Center Tour - Tour the Research Center virtually on Facebook Live June 4th at 11am CT, then switch over to Zoom after the tour for a great opportunity to talk directly with Dr. Cody.

Parents/Caregivers of Young Children Support Call - Meet other families with young children to share in support, build resources, and learn from one another via Zoom on June 10th at 7pm CT.

Reduced-Cost Stipend and Special First-Time Family Pricing Closes - Registration with reduced-costs stipends or special first-time family pricing will close on June 12th at midnight CT, one month before Conference.

June Facebook Live - Hear from Rebekah, an 18p- self-advocate, as we recognize 18p- Awareness Day on June 18th at 6pm CT.

Conference Registration Closes - All Conference registration closes June 26th at midnight CT. No registration will be allowed after this time.

EVENTS CALENDAR

The 2026 Starfish Dash 5k Run/Walk & Health Fair

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and our wonderful participants for making the 2026 Starfish Dash such an amazing event! Because of you, we raised over $20,000 to support our Chromosome 18 families!

Join in again next year on April 24, 2027!

A special thank you to The Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center for hosting the event and to our sponsors UT San Antonio, Natera, Astound, and the City of San Antonio.

Please submit your photos from the Dash to programs@chromosome18.org. Your photos will be added to the 2026 Starfish Dash photo albums on Facebook, which you can check out below!

Click the play button above the check out our thank you video!

Virtual Dash Photo Album

In-Person Dash Photo Album

We are Halfway to our 2026 Fundraising Goal!

Pictured (left to right): Audrey Harzke, Gloria Matthews, Jannine Cody, PhD, Aamuktha Pentala, MPH, and Brittany Antopia, MPH.

Clinical Research Center

This month's article covers the important connection between the brain and lifestyle choices, detailing how critical a healthy lifestyle is for people with chromosome 18 conditions.

READ HERE

Thank You to Kronkosky Charitable Foundation

We are thrilled to announce an incredibly generous grant of $85,000 awarded by Kronkosky Charitable Foundation that will directly fund the Clinical Research Center’s entire Seizure Study.

We are so grateful for their support and dedication to helping people with Chromosome 18 abnormalities lead happy, healthy, and productive lives. Thank you, Kronkosky.

Illinois Bowling Event

Our Great Plains Coordinators, the Anama Family, hosted a wonderful family gathering on May 17th in Des Plaines, IL. Attendees played three fun games of bowling, and it was a great time to connect with the regional community in-person. Thank you to the Anama Family for hosting such a great regional event!

Photo Album