There are certain people that through adversity take a different road instead of giving up and move forward, creating a possible world in which the very obstacles that held them back can conceivably be changed. I like to think we, as a creative bunch here at Handmade Spark, especially get this and for many of us, it is what drives us to create. This week I want to bring to your attention a very special family that is doing this through a special musical benefit they assembled to help research for Smith Magenis Syndrome (or SMS).”

Click on Pacing the Panic Room blog any day and you are sure to enjoy cute pictures of two adorable kids and plenty of real life antics of a new and growing family. Ryan Marshall, dad and photographer, has chronicled this for the last couple of years with a rare honesty. Almost a year ago, they received a diagnosis of SMS for their son, a rare genetic disorder that was only recognized in the early 1980’s.  With this revelation to Panic’s readers there was the promise to do something.

“We moved out of the first phase of raging anger and sadness, and we just got busy,” Ryan remarks on Panic Room. In fact they got very busy. A year in the making, and as Ryan admits “abused all of my friendships with musicians from my past life,” they created a parent and kid-friendly record with the benefits funneling into a grant for grad students choosing SMS as their field of study. The album is called Do Fun Stuff and features 13 songs by eight artists (who all donated their time and work) and is available on iTunes for download.

Why a kids album?  The idea grew from their own son’s reaction to listening to one of the artists, Rabbit, featured on the cd.  Ryan explains,” I chose to make a kids record because he loved music so much. For a little boy who does not speak, it is even more rare to hear him sing … So the light bulb came on to make a “Kids Record for Parents” something everyone would like.” And with that spark Do Fun Stuff became a reality and as recently noted on Panic, became #1 in downloaded kids music on iTunes!

So, if you are looking for something for you as a family to enjoy this Labor Day Weekend, whether it is traveling in the car, working on crafts, or maybe just something to sing along to…consider Do Fun Stuff and help make a difference!

~Lisa LeBlanc