Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, in partnership with Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center (CCPCDC) and with the support of sponsor Carolina East Medical Center, is holding a Walk With Me event at Havelock City Park on Saturday, May 7th. This fundraiser will benefit the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center’s program for children with and without disabilities. Event registration will begin at 9 a.m. with the Walk commencing at 10. Event organizers are hoping to raise between $15,000 and $20,000 by day’s end.

The pairing of walkers to an honorary ambassador – a child with a disability and beneficiary of CCPCDC services – makes this Walk With Me event unique. This pairing helps Walk With Me participants see the value and importance of their support on a very personal level.

Honorary ambassadors for the event are:

Leimone, a 5 year old boy who is full of energy, fun and personality. Life has not always been fun and games for Leimone as he was born with hypotonia and static encephalophy and was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. When Leimone first came to the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center he was just barely talking and had just started crawling. Now Leimone is talking non-stop, walking where he wants to go and playing up a storm with his friends!

Chrystal is a beautiful healthy 10 year old who just happens to have been born with Down Syndrome. Chrystal attended CCPCDC from the age of 2 months and stayed in the program through the age of 9. Chrystal is now in the 4th grade at Havelock Elementary School, where she has enjoys playing soccer, cheerleading and being a Girl Scout. While Chrystal still works very hard to learn life skills, she has a wonderful future ahead of her because of the time she spent at the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center.

Makayla is a beautiful 4 year old girl who is full of life. Makayla had a rough start to life as she was born with Goldenhar Syndrome and was medically very fragile. This special little girl had many special needs, but these needs have been met with the help of CCPCDC. In fact, Makayla has caught up to her peers and is a leader in her class. The center has been a safe place for her – a place where the teachers are trained to meet medically related needs such as G-Tube feedings and therapists can offer her Occupational, Speech, and Physical therapies. Makayla will continue to need special care in the future, but thanks to the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center, her future is bright and full of promise.

Brandon is a happy little boy that loves to smile and laugh. He was born with Lissencephaly, which means his brain is smooth on the surface, instead of folded with ridges like a normally developing brain. This condition has caused his cerebral palsy and the mental and physical challenges he deals with each day. But Brandon has so many abilities- he can sit up, roll over, reach for toys, and he’s even learning to help feed himself. He loves playing with his big sister, Summer, and playing fetch with the family dog, Sally. His Mom and Dad are very proud of all his achievements, and are excited to see what the future holds for their special little boy. Mom and Dad will also tell you that the early intervention, therapies, and exceptional care he receives at the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center have made a huge difference in his development.

For more information, to become a corporate sponsor, to form a team or to participate in the Easter Seals UCP/ Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center Walk With Me event, please contact Barb Krcmar, Director of the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center at 252-447-3892 or ccpcdc@embarqmail.com.

About the Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center

Founded in January 1974 Craven Cherry Point Child Development Center is a private, non-profit agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Center provides educational/developmental training to young children with and without special needs.

About Easter Seals UCP

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC with programs and services throughout North Carolina and Virginia, Easter Seals UCP is a lifelong partner to families managing disabilities and mental health challenges. The nonprofit serves more than 20,000 individuals and their families annually through an array of services. Easter Seals UCP enhances the quality of life for individuals and maximizes their potential for engaging in their communities. For more information on Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, please visit www.eastersealsucp.com