|
|
|
 Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast will be hosting the 3rd Annual Walk With Me event on Saturday, October 3rd at Langan Park.
Walk With Me, a national Easter Seals event, began on the Gulf Coast with our first walk in 2007. Along with our community partners, sponsors, and teams, we raised $70,000 the first year and attracted hundreds of walkers. The second year, we raised $133,000! Our goal for 2009 is $150,000, and with October right around the corner, we are pushing every day to meet the challenge - $.98 of every dollar we raise supports the nearly 7,000 children and adults with disabilities we serve annually in 12 counties in Alabama and Florida, and that number is increasing every year.
 We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to be a part of this year's walk. Whether you walk as an individual or a team, sponsor the event, volunteer, or provide a booth at the event, you are not only helping to support children and adults with disabilities, you will also get to meet some of the people we serve. The walk is a celebration of independence and helping others... families, children, and folks of all abilities are invited to participate in our family fun walk.
We would like to acknowledge our National Corporate Sponsors: CVS/Caremark, Century 21, and Amway Global, along with our Local Community Sponsors: 95 KSJ, American General, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Coastal Realty Services, Knights of Columbus, NBC 15, Providence United Methodist Church, Publix Supermarket, Roberts Brothers CPM, Inc., Starbucks, Syngenta, Taste of Mobile, and Whitney Bank. Thank you so much for your support and helping us help others!
To register or find out more, visit www.walkwithme.org/mobile or call 251.471.1581.
MEET OUR 2009 AMBASSADORS!
 WALK WITH WILLIAM William was born at 28 weeks with only a 10% chance of survival. He weighed
three pounds and spent the first three months of his life in the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit. After he began breathing without the use of equipment, the
next obstacle was to learn to drink and swallow simultaneously without going
into respiratory distress. He eventually had a feeding tube surgically
implanted into his abdomen. William came to Goodwill Easter Seals for early
intervention and therapy services. The first service he received was physical
therapy because he was developmentally delayed and unable to hold his head up,
roll over, and sit. Once he began walking, he received occupational therapy and
learned to drink and eat properly. Finally, he received speech therapy and was
taught how to talk. Once William learned how to talk, he had a lot to say! He
is now 3 years old and is a thriving toddler with a loving, supportive family.
 WALK WITH KAYLA Kayla is
7 year old 1st grader .Her favorite phrase is" Get Up
and Try Again" She came to the Goodwill Easter Seals Child Development Center
at the age of 15 months. In the beginning, doctors and many
others were skeptical about whether she would ever be able to walk. Kayla's
determination and will are so strong she refused to sit in her wheelchair and
would cry when people tried to make her use her walker. Today she is so quick
on her feet and walks without the assistance of any equipment. Although
developmentally a bit behind other 7 year olds she is still far beyond original
expectations. Her mental retention has surprised many. She counts from 1 to 20,
has a good grasp of colors and will identify them correctly. Kayla knows how to
spell her name and with a little help is able to write it. She
accomplished many of these goals with the help and support of her family and
the Goodwill Easter Seals staff. Kayla is an inspiration to many and lights a
fire in the hearts of all who she come in contact with.
 WALK WITH MICHAEL Michael
is forty years old and has cerebral palsy. He has participated in Goodwill
Easter Seals job training programs and has attended Easter Seals Camp ASCCA, a
nationwide camp for children and adults with disabilities, for over 16 years.
Michael enjoys working out, painting, and square dancing. You can see his hard
work and friendly face at Bruno's, where he has worked for 19 years. Michael
and his family look forward to representing Goodwill Easter Seals at the 2009
Walk With Me event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
