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5K benefits Easter Seals
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
When they’re not playing with their toys, having fun in school or learning to dance, you might find 5-year-old sisters Ava and Gianna Sabatino taking long walks.
“We won the race!” an excited Ava said after walking a mile in about 23 minutes.
The Howland girls may have won, but many parents who have children with special needs feel their youngsters are on a winning track, thanks to services they receive from Easter Seals.
It was in that spirit that about 200 children and adults took part in Easter Seals’ ninth annual 5K Walk & Run to Make the First Five Count fundraiser Saturday in Boardman Park.
The goal was to raise $20,000, all of which is to fund the agency’s programs, services and early- intervention efforts, noted Jodi Harmon, development and public-relations director.
Within the next 15 years, close to 50 percent of Americans could be living with a disability, a dramatic increase from the current 20 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 2012, the local Easter Seals served more than 5,000 adults and children in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, and provided nearly $546,000 in uncompensated services to those unable to afford them, the agency says.
Ava and Gianna, who attend Fairhaven Preschool, are this year’s Easter Seals’ child representatives. Ava has various speech delays; her sister was diagnosed with mild-to-moderate autism, noted the girls’ mother, Jackie Sabatino.
“I wanted to help raise money for Easter Seals for their campaign because Easter Seals has helped my children reach their fullest potential,” said Jackie, who teaches math to students in prekindergarten through second grade in the Warren schools.
Other family members in the race were Ava and Gianna’s father, Dave Sabatino, who ran and crossed the finish line in about 35 minutes; the girls’ grandparents, Frank and Elaine Sabatino, who walked one mile; and Lenore Mooney, who has baby-sat the girls since they were 8 months old and is a close family friend.
The 5-K event is old-hat for 7-year-old Cody Denmeade of Boardman, who was Easter Seals’ child representative for 2010 and 2011.
Cody, who has developmental delays and attends Leonard Kirtz School in Austintown, has taken part each year since he was 3, said his mother, Lisa Denmeade.
His interests and passions include riding horses, playing baseball, being in school and following the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, she said.
“Yeah!” Cody said when asked if he enjoyed being in the event.
Harmon also praised the estimated 25 volunteers who prepared the course, among other duties.
“You can’t pull an event off like this without community volunteers,” she added.