The Outrun Cerebral Palsy Wellington 5K Run & Wheelchair Race, presented by the Great Charity Challenge, the Rotary Club of Wellington and United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida, will take place Sunday, April 24 at the Wellington Amphitheater (12100 W. Forest Hill Drive, Wellington).
According to event co-chair Larry Kemp, the Rotary Club wanted to create a 5K race in cooperation with another nonprofit.
“We decided we’d work with the United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida and put a 5K race together, including wheelchair races,” he explained.
Children and those in racing wheelchairs can be pushed by either their parents or an athlete provided by the race organizers, or travel throughout the race on their own. Anyone in a wheelchair is welcome; the race is not limited to those with cerebral palsy.
“One of the things we’re promoting with this in terms of the wheelchair side of it is making the CP kids feel like athletes for the day,” Kemp said. “That’s the big intent of this.”
Rotarian Dr. Jonathan Chung of Keystone Chiropractic is excited to be working with Kemp on the event.
“We’re most excited about giving these kids an opportunity to participate in this athletic endeavor. When I was a kid growing up, sports were a big part of my life, and they really shaped a big part of the fabric of who I am,” Chung said. “I think that every child deserves the opportunity to be an athlete, even if it’s only for a day.”
He wanted to help do something good to help those in need.
“It’s something I’ve always been really passionate about, and I thought this would be a fun and interesting way to make it happen,” Chung said. “The race was like a pie-in-the-sky idea — I didn’t know if it was going to be possible, but the Rotary Club really made it happen. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to see something that just started, an idea, be something that I hope will be really cool for years to come.”
The run, club members hope, will serve as a fundraiser to help those with cerebral palsy and establish an opportunity where those with CP are able to meet others, as well as raise awareness in the community.
“One of the big reasons we did the race was because it was inspired by the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt,” Chung said. “They’re a father-and-son duo, and the son has cerebral palsy. He’s paralyzed from the waist down.”
The father, wanting to spend time with his son, started doing 5Ks with him, eventually moving up to triathlons, Chung explained. The Hoyt family has become an inspiration across the country.
“I thought it would be a great idea to give local kids and adults the opportunity to go through that,” he said.
South Florida duo Michael Sayih, 23, and his father, Jim, 53, will be participating in the race and have been an inspirational local family.
Kemp is working with fellow co-chair Chung to create a race that is friendly for walkers, runners and wheelchair participants. The rest of the coordinating committee includes Pat Murphy, the executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Broward, Palm Beach & Mid-Coast Counties, along with Maureen Budjinski, Cathy Cole and other members of the Rotary Club.
Kemp hopes to attract more than 300 runners and walkers to take part in the inaugural 5K race. Fliers have been put out at running stores, fitness centers, coffee shops and anywhere else that potential participants congregate.
There is even going to be a team award for the largest team, Kemp said, adding that AccuChip Timing will be logging participants’ times.
Pre-event and post-event gatherings will take place at the amphitheater, including a performance by the Royal DJs, a cerebral palsy band (www.royaldjs.org). “They really put on a show,” Kemp said. “They’re very good.”
There will be a warm-up and awards for everyone attending. Additional awards will be presented to various groups based on speed. Snacks will be available after the race.
All proceeds from the race, Kemp said, will be divided among United Cerebral Palsy of South Florida and charities that benefit from the Rotary Club of Wellington Foundation, including Back to Basics, the Lord’s Place, the YWCA Harmony House, Rotary’s scholarship fund and others.
Sponsors include presenting sponsor Equestrian Sport Productions, and Prescription Plus, Keystone Chiropractic, Arden, CORA, the Center for Bone & Joint Surgery and Mobil 1 Lube Express. Media sponsors include the Town-Crier, Banzai Wellness Magazine and ESPN 106.3 FM. To learn how to become a sponsor, e-mail Kemp at larry.kemp@comcast.net.
Race packets can be picked up before the race at Fit2Run in the Mall at Wellington Green from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21.
Check-in for the race starts at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 24. The race will begin at 7:30 a.m. For more information, or to register, visit www.wellington5k.com.
ABOVE: The father-son team of Jim and Michael Sayih will take part in the Outrun Cerebral Palsy Wellington 5K Run & Wheelchair Race.
