E. Providence Man Running 2022 Boston Marathon For Rett Syndrome

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — The Boston Marathon is still almost two months away, but one East Providence man is already fundraising and getting ready to run again for a good cause.

Maurice Lowman, 42, finished with a time of 4 hours, 27 minutes and 58 seconds in October's marathon, while raising more than $14,000 for the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts. He ran that time, while wearing a blazer and dress pants, to draw more attention to the cause.

He said he might wear a suit again, but is hoping to get a purple on this year to match the color of Team Rhett.

"I just have a ton of gratitude for the role as a charity runner," Lowman said. "To be able to be part of a community for those who can't run and give a voice to those in the community is a privilege."

Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic disease, which causes people to lose bone density, leading to loss of motor skills, speech, and in some cases loss of the ability to eat and breathe without assistance. Rett Syndrome can also cause seizures.

Rett Syndrome normally affects girls. Male cases are much rarer, but more deadly because of how the disease affects boys' chromosomes. There's no known cure, and most boys diagnosed with the disease don't survive past their first year of life.

Tracy Freeman, of Stoughton, Massachusetts, lost her 7-year-old son to the disease in March 2021. Lowman had a picture of Aidan pinned to his suit while he ran last October.

"It was an absolute honor to wear his picture," Lowman said. "I loved the fact it generated a little bit of a buzz. People stopped and said, 'Hey, look at the guy in the suit. I wonder who that little boy is.'"

Freeman said this will be the first year the National Rett Syndrome Conference incorporates boys into their presentation. The conference is set for April 27-30 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Lowman will run the Boston Marathon on April 18. Those that wish to donate to the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts can do so on Lowman's fundraising page.