For most of us, eating is effortless. A sip of water, a bite of food, something we do dozens of times a day without a second thought.
For thousands of infants and children living with dysphagia, every meal is a challenge.
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that affects babies and kids across a wide range of conditions, from premature birth and congenital heart disease to neurological differences and airway anomalies. For these little ones, something as fundamental as feeding can be a daily struggle. For their families, it can feel isolating, overwhelming, and uncertain.
There is hope. And it starts with research.
That's why we're lacing up for the DRS Dash for Dysphagia. Walk, run, bike, swim, skate, or stroll, however you move, you're moving for the littlest patients in our field.
We're the Pediatric Special Interest Group of the Dysphagia Research Society, rallying together to grow the next generation of researchers and clinicians dedicated to understanding and treating swallowing disorders in children. Funds raised support the DRS Research Career Development Program and future scholarships and grants for our members.
You don't have to be a runner. You don't have to be a clinician. You just have to care. Join our team, donate, or cheer us on.
Participate your way, June 6–13, anywhere in the world.
Every swallow matters. Every stride counts.
