Join UMDF President and CEO Brian Harman and UMDF Science & Alliance Officer Phil Yeske as they catch up with Alan Breslow and the annual Cousins for a Cure event.

Watch last year’s Cousins for a Cure virtual event. 

Sydney Breslow was diagnosed with an unspecified mitochondrial disorder when she was eight years old after years of medical testing to determine the cause of her physical difficulties. Her specific mitochondrial disorder affects her neurologically, which causes difficulties with her balance, vision, speech and walking, presenting a myriad of daily challenges.

In 2016, due to advances in genetic testing, Sydney’s mitochondrial disorder was identified as MEPAN, which is caused by a mutation in the MECR gene. This condition often worsens over time and there is currently no cure available.

Despite these challenges, Sydney graduated Summa Cum Laude from High Point University in May of 2015 with a BA in Special Education. In December of 2016, Sydney received her Masters Degree in Special Education with a concentration in Intellectual Disabilities also from High Point University. She has been working at Alliance of Disability Advocates for 4 and a half years and is currently the Information and Referral Services Manager. Sydney is passionate about helping people with disabilities reach their full potential.

Sydney is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, hoping that one day there will be a cure for this debilitating, devastating, and many times fatal disease.

On November 29, 2013, the day after Thanksgiving, Sydney and her family tragically lost their nephew and cousin, Logan Aronson.

Logan was an amazing young man who was interested in international business and had a great love of history. He was known for his common sense, street smarts and good nature. Wherever he was, his quick wit and great sense of humor drew people to him.

Admirably, Logan uniquely danced to the beat of his own drum and was true to himself and his ideals. Logan was an inspiration to all in the way he loved life, his family and friends. Determined to turn this loss into something positive, Logan’s parents, Debra and Ron, requested a research fund be established with the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation in memory of Logan and in honor of Sydney.

Nothing would have made Logan happier than to help Sydney and others with mitochondrial disorders.