The week is strong.

Sisters share clothes, friends and even a bedroom, but Katlyn, 14, and Stephanie, 18, are linked by another bond. The girls have syringomyelia, a disorder that occurs when fluid that should flow through the brain and spine becomes trapped in the spinal cord. Katlyn, who describes her disease as getting a "gift I didn't like," has to wear leg and torso braces because the disorder affects her movement. Symptoms range from headaches and earaches to debilitating joint, stomach and back pain. Because not many people have heard of syringomyelia, Katlyn last year asked the city council members of Clifton, N.J., to create a day of awareness. In response to her request, the council did her one better and declared May 23-28 Syringomyelia Awareness Week! A weeklong community celebration featured a different fundraiser each day, including a baseball game between the fire and police departments, a fair with cotton candy and hot dogs, and a live butterfly release. It was such a hit that they're doing it again this year. Says Katlyn, "If you believe in yourself there s nothing you cant do ."