Thank you Marco Island

Our family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Marco Island community for its support of our daughter, Wynne, and our efforts to find a cure for her rare genetic disease, Kleefstra Syndrome. We had the privilege of attending the Tour de Taverns on December 4 which raised money for IDefine, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying life-changing treatments and cures for those with KS and other intellectual disabilities.

Days later we are still recounting the many warm conversations we had with the people of Marco and retelling stories of their generosity. We cannot thank the organizers, volunteers, bar owners and employees, sponsors and riders enough.

Marco Island is clearly a tight-knit community that knows how to have fun and look out for its own. To that end, support from the Tour de Taverns became a reality for us because of the actions of Wynne’s grandparents and our family on the island, Marie Lynn and Ray McChesney.

During our visit, we also had the honor of visiting the Marco Island Academy where Marie Lynn advises the Key Club and students raised $2,500 for Wynne and IDefine through several fundraisers. The school and community should be proud of MIA’s empathetic, engaging and service-oriented students. The Island’s future is definitely bright.

All of the money raised will soon be invested in KS research, but our memories of the hospitality, generosity and the love we were shown on Marco Island will live with us forever.

Matt, Maria, Josie and Wynne Lockwood