AUSTINTOWN Firefighter to walk to Cleveland to raise funds for spina bifida

John Fritz hopes to raise $3,000 each day of his walk.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- When John Fritz's 3-year-old daughter, Ryley, was born, a large blister full of blood and nerve endings protruded from her back where her spine failed to close properly.
The disorder, spina bifida, is the most common neural tube birth defect in the United States, affecting one of every 1,000 newborns.
Doctors told Fritz, a 13-year veteran of the Austintown Fire Department, and his wife, Karen, that a series of surgeries could help their baby girl, but that she would never be able to walk normally, at least not with treatment options currently available.
Thus far, Ryley's been through five operations, including one to place a shunt in her head to drain an accumulation of fluid in her brain, a condition that affects a large percentage of children with spina bifida.
As a result of the surgeries, the little girl can scoot along the floor on her tummy and sit upright in her wheelchair, but she can't walk.
After she heals from her most recent surgery, Ryley will be fitted with a back brace that may allow her to use a walker. "That's our hope," her dad said.
Long journey
To help Ryley and the dozens of other children in northeast Ohio affected by spina bifida, Fritz will walk from Austintown Fire Station No. 1 to Rainbow Babies & amp; Children's Hospital in Cleveland to generate donations, which will be shared by the hospital and the Tri-County Spina Bifida Association.
Fritz will begin his walk at 9 a.m. Thursday -- October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month -- and plans to trudge along, dressed in full firefighting gear, 12 hours a day for up to five days.
"I'd like to raise $3,000 a day," he said. "Last year I stood outside Wal-Mart in full gear for 24 hours and I raised $3,000," he said. "And I was just standing there."
Rest stops will be at firehouses, churches and businesses along the way.
Thus far, Fritz has received $600 in donations. "I'm not taking pledges," he explained, "because then I'd have to go back and collect them. So we're accepting donations when we see the people.
"Donations can be made at Austintown Fire Station No. 1 on state Route 46, Charter One Bank on Mahoning Avenue, or they can chase me down on the route," Fritz said.
Fritz's fellow firefighters will periodically walk along stretches of the route with him and will provide support vehicles. Other volunteers are welcome.
For more information or to volunteer, call (330) 799-6651.
kubik@vindy.com