Dear friends and family,

Charlotte was born with GAMT, a rare cerebral creatine deficiency that prevents her body from naturally producing the creatine it needs. But thanks to the incredible dedication of researchers and the Association for Creatine Deficiencies, supplementation has been life-changing for Charlotte and has given our family renewed hope for the future.

While we are incredibly grateful for how far we've come, we dream of a day when a cure is possible—not just for Charlotte, but for every child and family impacted by this rare genetic condition. A cure would mean a brighter future, greater possibilities, and hope for generations to come.

Since 2012, ACD has led the fight against creatine deficiencies. With 100% of Holiday Heroes donations being directed to research, your participation in this campaign is crucial in helping ACD continue that fight.

We invite you to join our family in supporting the Association for Creatine Deficiencies' Holiday Heroes campaign. Together, we can fuel groundbreaking research, bring hope to families like ours, and move one step closer to a cure. Every contribution brings us closer to a brighter tomorrow. Together, we can make a difference!

WHY THIS MATTERS

Creatine isn't just for athletes – it's essential for brain development. Children with creatine deficiencies have a genetic deficit that prevents their bodies from making or using creatine, causing developmental delays, speech difficulties, and seizures.

Holiday Heroes serves as ACD’s most important fundraising event.

100 % OF DONATIONS MADE DURING HOLIDAY HEROES GO DIRECTLY TO RESEARCH

ACD has invested over $7.6 million in research since its inception, with over $5.1 million invested in 2026 alone! Current research initiatives include:

UC Berkeley - 1-year research award to accelerate the development of a novel method to deliver a key enzyme directly into cells to enable creatine production in individuals with GAMT deficiency.
Johns Hopkins University - 2-year research investment to accelerate their work to deliver creatine to the brain, including to neurons, using dendrimer nanoparticles, without the need for a creatine transporter, to help patients with CTD.
Stanford University - 2-year research award to build upon their work developing new ways to deliver creatine directly into cells without relying on the faulty transporter protein that causes CTD.
Ultragenyx - Investment in the clinical development of a therapy for Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) with a total commitment of $4 million as the program progresses.

OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Since 2012, ACD has led the fight against creatine deficiencies. We've already added GAMT to U.S. federal screening guidelines and are seeing adoption grow worldwide. With CTD, we're working toward the same milestone - and ultimately, a cure. Our vision is that one day all creatine deficiencies will be identified and treated within seven days of birth, and those already living with CCDS will receive treatments to achieve their maximum potential.

💙🧡 Join us. Be part of the breakthrough. Donate today.💙🧡

The Association for Creatine Deficiencies (ACD) was established in 2012 by parents of children diagnosed with Cerebral Creatine Deficiency Syndrome (CCDS) who decided a rare disease needs a unified community to effect change for the future. The ACD Board consists of unpaid CCDS parent professionals committed to this cause.

Charlotte's Heroes - Holiday Heroes 2026