The 9th annual WalkRite for RiteCare was a wonderful success on June 4th. The weather was a warm 94°, but not uncomfortably humid, as we welcomed 150 RiteCare families, the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute staff and faculty, and Scottish Rite Masons and their families to Lake Zorinsky’s picnic pavilion for the Walk.
While WalkRite for RiteCare has a goal of fundraising and awareness, the Walk has also become an effort to celebrate our RiteCare families and give them a fun event, where they can simply enjoy the morning and fun activities with their kids.
This year, the women of the UNO Nebraska Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSHLA) hosted a table with activities for the kids, including face painting and games, and the Culinary Masters grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. RiteCare families donated several beautiful raffle baskets, which raised an additional $400, and many families made generous donations throughout the day.
Kicking off the Walk, RiteCare dad and Scottish Rite Mason T.J. Brumfield, 32° welcomed guests and thanked RiteCare for helping his daughter Eva find her words to express herself. Diagnosed with childhood apraxia, Eva knew what she wanted to say, but her brain could not tell her mouth and muscles how to vocalize it. RiteCare Clinician Paul Laikko has worked with Eva to help her acquire the skills to accurately, consistently make the right sounds and sequences of sounds. As she gained confidence in her ability to make herself understood, her personality began to shine.
“Eva’s ability to be understood has had a tremendously positive impact on my family,” said T.J. Brumfield
This year, WalkRite for RiteCare has raised $8,424 for the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha’s commitment to speech therapy at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. This year is he 3rd best Walk in the 9 years the Valley of Omaha has hosted the event, which has raised about $70,000 since the first WalkRite in 2009. An estimated record of 150 walkersturned out - many wearing theri own team shirts to celebrate their RiteCare kid - Coop’s Troop, Team Jacob, Indie Pendant, and Beckett’s Band to name a few!
To support the Walk for RiteCare, please visit http://walkrite.kintera.org/omaha2017 to make a tax-deductible donation.