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8/22/10 - Edison Mayor Kicks Off Easter Seals Walk With Me Event Local Businesses Sponsor Upcoming Easter Seals "Walk With Me", Edison Mayor to Kick Off Event Later this Month
Middlesex County, NJ On Sunday, August 22nd, members of the community can take the first step toward making a difference in the life of someone with a disability or special need and partner with CVS Caremark, Century 21, Amway and a host of local sponsors to walk with Easter Seals New Jersey in its 2010 “Walk With Me” event.
Easter Seals provides various disability services to over 7,000 New Jersey families with autism and other developmental disabilities, mental illness and other special needs, as well as homeless services. The Walk With Me event begins with registration at 8:30 am and Edison Township Mayor Toni Ricigliano kicks off the start of the walk at 10 am. The 2-mile Family Fun Walk will take place at the lake adjacent to the Level Playing Fields in Edison’s Roosevelt Park, conveniently located next to the Menlo Park Mall.
Guests will also have a chance to meet and walk alongside Easter Seals New Jersey’s event Ambassadors - Armaun, Cosette and Vitaliy - three children whose lives have been impacted by Easter Seals and the services it provides.
“The walk will raise critically needed funds for programs that enable thousands of children and adults with disabilities and special needs to live with more joy and independence,” said Brian Fitzgerald, ceo and president of Easter Seals New Jersey.
Armaun is an incredibly special young man. At 13 years old, in addition to facing the challenges of cerebral palsy, he also endured the loss of his mother and the illness of his grandmother which landed him in foster care. With the help of a campership, he is able to attend Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart where he is able to experience the fellowship and camaraderie of other kids facing similar challenges. Described as being “irrepressible”, Armaun believes he can do anything and refuses to allow his disability or any challenges to stop him!
Cosette was diagnosed at only 18 months of age with a brain stem tumor that resulted in partial paralysis leaving her confined to a wheelchair. But this happy, smiling 12 year old with an unbreakable spirit won’t allow her neurological disabilities and physical limitations to get in her way. Cosette loves nature and animals, music, and arts and crafts and since she’s always up for anything, Easter Seals provides the opportunity for her to enjoy the independence and the freedom to experience all these things and more. At Camp Merry Heart, she’s not different from all the other kids she’s just a happy little girl who wants to have fun and experience all the things that any 12 year old would want to do.
Vitaliy is a 16 year old with developmental disabilities who spent the first seven years of his life in a Russian orphanage until he and his siblings were adopted in the United States. Three years ago, Vitaliy began attending Easter Seals Camp Merry Heart and fun and recreation provided has allowed him to experience things not otherwise available due to his disabilities. His confidence has improved vastly because of camp and he even participated in and won a walk/run event to raise money for his school. Vitaliy is very excited to be an Easter Seals “Walk with Me” Ambassador and share his story so that more kids will be able to come to camp and have the same wonderful experiences that he has enjoyed.
In addition to the health benefit of the exercise provided via the walk, festivities for the entire family continue immediately following with refreshments, music, free health and wellness services such as blood pressure and skin cancer screenings provided courtesy of CVS Caremark, arts and crafts activities provided by A.C. Moore, photo booth provided by Memory Lane, face-painting, and more. All walkers will also receive a T-shirt and other prize incentives based on their levels of sponsorship or funds raised.
“We’re grateful for the sponsorship of CVS stores throughout the state and their commitment to forming teams, along with our local A.C. Moore and Century 21 for providing family-friendly amenities for after the walk," said Fitzgerald. "We couldn’t do this without the support of all our sponsors and donors.”
Additional local event sponsors include William T. Byrne, Kevin Paccione, Magellan Hill, Toshiba Business Solutions, Mercer MMC, My NJ Office, New Concepts Leasing, Amper Politziner & Mattia CPA, Dave’s Suburban Disposal Services, Ajilon Professional Staffing, At Your Service Carpets & Upholstery, Camp America, Corporate Claims Management, Herr’s, Jack Trocki Development, Lox Risk Management Consulting Services, Lox Stock & Deli, PC Warehouse, RK Bennett Management, Robert Half International, The RVH Group/Merrill Lynch, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, and Value City Furniture.
Refreshments generously provided by Coca-Cola, Saker ShopRite of Edison, Herr’s, Pizza Hut of Edison, Domino’s of Edison, and Bagel Pantry of South Plainfield.
“Our three young ambassadors refuse to allow their disabilities to prevent them from living life,” Fitzgerald said. “They’re walking for equality, dignity and independence and we’re asking members of the community to demonstrate their support by walking alongside them."
"Everyone can help. Even if they’re unable to join us, they can help by sponsoring someone who’s walking or by making a donation at walkwithme.org/nj,” he added.
To register to walk, or for information on sponsoring a walker or making a donation, please visit www.walkwithme.org/nj Additional inquiries regarding donation of prizes and other giveaways should be directed to event coordinator Preethi Kumar at (732) 257-6662 x293 or by email to pkumar@nj.easterseals.com
About Easter Seals New Jersey
The mission of Easter Seals New Jersey is to enable individuals with disabilities or special needs, and their families, to live, learn, work and play in their communities with equality, dignity and independence.
Easter Seals is a leading non-profit provider of comprehensive services for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism, physical disabilities, mental illness and other special needs. For over 60 years, our services have been geared toward helping individuals remove obstacles along their path toward independence and full community-integration.
Easter Seals is committed to creating solutions and providing programs that produce tangible results in the lives of approximately 7,000 individuals and families in New Jersey. For more information on Easter Seals New Jersey and its statewide disability services, please contact us at 732-257-6662, or visit on-line at www.eastersealsnj.org or www.facebook.com/eastersealsnj
Documents and/or Photos available for this release:
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 266552 CONTACT Ms. Alyson Balan-Altman Communications Manager Easter Seals NJ Phone: (732) 257-6662 x290 E-Mail: abalan-altman@nj.easterseals.com Ms. Preethi Kumar Event Coordinator Easter Seals NJ Phone: (732) 257-6662 x293 E-Mail: pkumar@nj.easterseals.com
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Easter Seals New Jersey, 25 Kennedy Blvd - Suite 600, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
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