Many thanks to Heather Fawcett for organizing both a 5k and a kids race on September 9, 2009 at Sunset Park in Pennsylvania to benefit CPIRF.  Heather belongs to a National community service organization called Alpha Phi Omega that helped her put the event together. In all, they had 45 runners and raised over $300 for cerebral palsy research.

Heather, a student at Penn State, has a form of mild cerebral palsy.  She is very grateful to have had wonderful doctors, physical therapists, and family members who have supported her  throughout her life. When she was younger, she  had trouble doing even fairly simple tasks, but thanks to her family and therapists, she completed her first marathon last year in a time of 4 hours and 26 minutes (10:13 min per mile pace).

In Heather ‘s words, ‘I just feel so blessed for all that has been given to me and I know that not all other individuals with Cerebral Palsy are as lucky as I am. That’s why I hope that someday we will be able to make the lives of those with much more severe disability be easier, so they can lead normal, happy lives. “

You too, can help promote CP awareness, by getting involved and organizing local events to benefit CP research and educational activities.  CPIRF can help by providing T-shirts, pamphlets and educational materials.

You can view the Stride for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Race website by going to: http://sites.google.com/site/strideforawareness or just www.stride4awareness.org