For the past five years, TBF Ambassador and brain aneurysm survivor Elizabeth Ratta has hosted the Rita Skertich Race in honor of her grandmother, Rita Skertich, whose experience with an unruptured brain aneurysm inspired a lasting mission to improve awareness, research, and support for others.
Every registration and donation helps fund two important initiatives at UVM Medical Center:
The Rita Skertich Health Equity Research Grant supports research focused on the communities most affected by brain aneurysms. Black and Hispanic individuals are twice as likely to experience a brain aneurysm rupture as White individuals, and women are 1.5 times more likely than men to suffer a rupture. By advancing health equity research, this grant aims to improve understanding, access to care, and patient outcomes.
To date, $30,000 has been awarded through the research grant:
- 2025: Natalia Vasconcellos, MD — $15,000
- 2026: Juan R. Cebral, PhD — $15,000
The Rita Skertich Fund for Brain Aneurysm Survivors provides financial assistance to patients and families facing the unexpected costs of brain aneurysm treatment and recovery. Thanks to supporters like you, the fund has already helped 7 families by providing $3,500 in direct financial assistance.
When you join the Rita Skertich Race, you're helping fund lifesaving research, reduce health disparities, and provide meaningful support to brain aneurysm survivors and their families.