By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
The Clearview Regional High girls basketball team hosted its annual Pitt-Hopkins fundraiser game against Washington Township on Monday night.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder affecting brain development, causing intellectual disability, significant developmental delays, distinctive facial features and severe breathing problems — such as apnea and hyperventilation — often accompanied by seizures and autistic-like behaviors.
The cause hits home for senior point guard Juliette Mirigliani, whose older brother, Anthony, has been battling Pitt-Hopkins for the past 21 years.
“We always try to do some type of fundraiser. In the past, we’ve done breast cancer and other cancers,” said Clearview coach Casey Heitman. “Once Juliette became part of the team and we learned about it, we switched to make it something that the girls can relate to.”
Anthony, a 2022 Clearview graduate, was diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome when he was 5 years old. He suffers from several challenges, including breathing complications, hyperactivity and motor delays. He requires 24-hour care and will never be able to live independently.
Clearview may have lost the game — a 39-32 divisional setback to the Minutemaids — but the Pioneers sure won the night. Mirigliani led the Pioneers with 11 points.
All admission proceeds, along with snack stand sales, will be donated to the Pitt-Hopkins Research Foundation. Numerous paper basketballs were also sold throughout the day, which were signed by supporters and hung on the gym wall.
According to Anthony and Juliette’s mother, Claudette Mirigliani, more than $1,500 was raised.
“Anthony’s had support here for many years. Coach Heitman over the last three years has done this for Anthony and Pitt-Hopkins,” Ms. Mirigliani said. “It means the world to us. We raise money and send it to the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation, and those funds go to medical research to hopefully find a cure or treatment for Pitt Hopkins Syndrome.”
Click the link below for more information about Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome:
