Tee it Up with Clint & Kevin Black

Country music singers Clint and Kevin Black, along with their family and friends, are teeing it up September 26 on the Tournament Course at Redstone Golf Club in Houston for the Third Annual Rett Syndrome Celebrity Golf Tournament. All proceeds benefit the International Rett Syndrome Association (IRSA).

Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 23, 2006 -- Earlier today Redstone Golf Management announced it has teamed with Clint & Kevin Black to host the third annual Tee it Up for Rett Syndrome Celebrity Golf Tournament on September 26, at the Tournament Course at Redstone Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

Clint and Kevin Black, both country singers, their family, friends and other Houston-area celebrities will be hosting the event and leading the effort to raise money for the International Rett Syndrome Association (IRSA), Cortney Black Fund. Evan Johanson, CEO of the Redstone Golf Management Corporation stated that this tournament will be played on Redstone’s Tournament Course where the Shell Houston Open was played for the first time this past April, 2006.

Kevin Black’s daughter, Cortney, died of Rett Syndrome (RS) complications in March 2002 at age sixteen. In a statement released by Clint he stated ‘"My entire family and especially my brother, Kevin has suffered so much pain over the loss of Cortney, Kevin's only daughter. At age 16, she was taken by the dreadful disorder Rett Syndrome. This golf tournament in which I’m participating is dedicated to my niece, with the benefits going to the International Rett Syndrome Association. Our efforts are projected with the hope that we can be a small part of donating to the research for a cure of Rett Syndrome and spare other families this grief. My brothers, Mark, Kevin, Brian and my Dad G.A. will all ban together on that day, hoping that the Black family can make a difference."

This is the third time Kevin has hosted the event and it is the first time he will be joined by high-profile supporters. Kevin said,’ In the last two events we have not been very high profile in our efforts however with Clint coming in for the event along with our brothers and other Houston-area celebrities on hand we will all be trying to make it a very memorable day.’ Besides Kevin and Clint other committed celebrities signed on to play with golfers include: Voice of the Houston Rockets, Gene Peterson; Texas Singing Legend Gary P. Nunn; former Rocket All Star Robert Reid; former Harlem Globetrotter Sweet Lou Dunbar; Boxer and Olympic Coach Termite Watkins; Singer Songwriter, Roger Creager; Sports Reporter Kenny Hand; Larry Dierker, former Astros player/manager; Dan Pastorini, Houston Oiler quarterback and David Clyde, former Texas Ranger player... and more to come!

How can someone sign up to play or become a sponsor?
Go to http://www.cortneyblackfund.org/. Someone can register on the website as an individual golfer or as a foursome. They can sponsor a hole with a $250 donation, or be one of our Gold, Platinum, Double Platinum or Triple Platinum sponsors. If someone has questions they can direct them to Tournament Co- Directors Dave Clements 713 410-6076 or Marianne Lines 281 701-5596.

What is Rett Syndrome?
RS is a genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls. RS becomes apparent after six to 18 months of normal development. It results in a regression that leads to lifelong handicaps including loss of speech, purposeful hand use and mobility. It manifests itself with seizures, respiratory and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Somewhere in the world, every five hours a child is born with RS. RS affects one in 10,000 – 15,000 female births. We hope to find them to provide care, advocacy and research that will make a difference.

Why hold the tournament in Houston?
The Houston area has always had a strong connection to Rett Syndrome. First of all, there are families with dear daughters of a variety of ages heroically struggling with daily challenges of Rett syndrome. Second, one of the world’s largest Rett syndrome clinics (the Blue Bird Clinic) is a part of the Baylor School of Medicine. Under the direction Dr. Daniel Glaze, the Blue Bird Clinic has been leading the way for years in providing meaningful care and important clinical research studies. So much of what is known about Rett syndrome has come from this clinic. Most important of all, some of the world’s most critical and advanced research on finding cures and treatments for Rett syndrome is taking place at the Baylor School of Medicine under the direction of the world-renowned geneticist Dr. Huda Zoghbi. Not only did they discover the gene mutation that causes Rett syndrome at Baylor in 1999, but they have also been consistently leading the way in breakthrough after breakthrough in learning how Rett syndrome works and what we can do to help those individuals living with it (as well as one day finding a cure).

Who Benefits from the Tournament?
Net proceeds from this tournament benefit the International Rett Syndrome Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting medical research to find a cure and treatments for RS, increasing public awareness, and providing information and emotional support to families of children with RS. Learn more about the International Rett Syndrome Association at www.rettsyndrome.org .

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