For more than 10 years, Washington University play-by-play announcer Jay Murry has been bringing awareness of Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that impacts a person’s ability to speak, walk, eat, and breathe. He has combined his passion for running ultramarathons fundraising to find a cure for Rett to fundraise, currently running Rett Gets Rocked to the 1000th Power, which includes running over 1,000 miles in a virtual race across the country from May 1 to Sept. 30.
Murry will then conclude his seventh Rett Gets Rocked solo ultramarathon by attempting to complete 1,000 laps of the Sumers Rec Center indoor track at WashU in 38 hours or fewer.”
Rett Syndrome
“In 2013, I was working as a paraprofessional at Fort Zumwalt West when I met a student named Ellie McCool, who was a sophomore at the time. The more I watched her, the more I learned about her and how her eyes were able to take in everything, even though she was in a wheelchair and not communicating,” recalled Murry, who met McCool’s caregiver Katie Busch. “I started asking Katie questions about Rett and discovering how sinister the disease is. I wanted to do something about it.”
The Rett Gets Rocked ultramarathon benefits the Rett Spectrum Clinic at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital inside the WashU School of Medicine and the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. Rett syndrome affects about 1 in every 10,000 births (affecting females more than males because the gene mutation that causes Rett occurs on the X chromosome) and takes away a child’s ability to move and communicate between the ages of six and 18 months. The multiple life-threatening conditions include frequent seizures, severe scoliosis, and eating and drinking difficulties.
Clinical trials in the U.S. and Canada have shown early promise in re-engineering the gene mutation that causes Rett Syndrome. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved DAYBUE (trofinetide), an oral solution as the first treatment for Rett in adults and children two years of age and older.
Ultramarathons and WashU
Murry credits his uncle Edward Murry for building his love of marathons. “He ran marathons in Cleveland, and I learned about his running on a family camping trip when I was about 10. I took his interest in running marathons and raised the lunacy factor,” joked Murry, who started running ultramarathons in 2012 after several years of running conventional marathons. “Running marathons in the St. Louis area got too expensive, while ultramarathons are about half that price. I started with a 12-hour run to start to see if I could survive.”
He worked in radio broadcasting until he was laid off in 2009, at which point it became a hobby and he began announcing WashU sporting events. His call of the second game of a softball doubleheader on Apr. 13, 2023, marked his 1,000th WashU broadcast. Murry admits he was a bit of a “homer” when he first started calling games, but then-WashU sports information director Chris Mitchell reminded him that at least half of the listeners were fans from the opposing team. “He asked me to play it down the middle. As a (St. Louis baseball) Cardinals’ booster, I had listened to Jack Buck and how fair he called the games,” commented Murry, who is well-regarded for his neutral calls of Bears’ contests. “There are great stories on both sides in any matchup, so I am serious about providing a great product that illuminates both teams. These are athletes with great stories to tell who are doing wonderful things in and out of the classroom.”
Murry appreciates all that WashU has done for him, not only for his broadcasting, but for his fundraising efforts as well. “They have been great not only with providing the venue, but with donations and overall advocacy for Rett Gets Rocked. I have had incredible support from the first game I called there to now. Those are two of many reasons why I am still at WashU,” he pointed out.
In the end, he believes that fighting against Rett Syndrome aligns well with the Division III, UAA, and WashU model. “It is like a ‘Why D3’ thing. It suits the ambitions, drive, and mission statement that athletes perform well and enjoy athletics for its sake, but also promote other causes and help others who may not have received the attention,” he communicated.