More than 300 people took part in the 16th annual Walk & Roll for Disabilities on March 1, raising more than $25,000 that will go toward recreational programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
“We want adults 21 and over to have the same opportunities that their typical peers do,” said Meyer Foundation for Disabilities board president Mary McHale. The Walk & Roll is one of the major fundraisers the foundation holds to support MMI programming.
See a photo album from the event.
“Since MFD’s gotten involved, MMI’s cooking club has expanded from one to three nights a month,” she said. “We fully fund the Thursday night program, which is a great opportunity for respite for our parents and caregivers, and it’s also a fun activity for our adults with disabilities. We’ve also purchased about six or seven adaptive bikes through the years.”
Nicole Giron, interim director of the MMI Department of Recreational Therapy, said it was exciting to see new families getting involved at the event.
“It’s a wonderful blending of families that have been with us for a long time as well as new families who have just started services,” she said. “It’s a gathering space for people to come together and celebrate people who have developmental disabilities. It also allows us to kick off Developmental Disabilities Month with a big celebration.”
As always, members of Giron’s department were out in force as volunteers to support the event.
“We look at these events as supporting the MMI family,” she said. “And you show up for family.”
Jay Herink, father of Ben Herink, the honorary advocate for the event, said he enjoyed running into old friends from the decades Ben and his family have been part of MMI.
“It’s a chance to get back together and celebrate and support a great organization,” he said. ‘When you get out of school, if you are an individual with a disability, there’s nothing for you in the way of services. The recreational activities this program provides fill a huge hole in people’s lives.”
Rachel Neurath is a member of the popular 501st Legion, who have been coming to the event in their trademark Star Wars costumes for years.
“This is a great event,” she said. “It’s all about the people, and we’re here to help out. We get a lot of smiles — some shy smiles, some of the children will still be behind Mom’s leg, but they’ll peek out. And the parents who grew up with Star Wars are maybe even more excited.”
Members of the UNMC community also raised more than $4,700 in the Denim for Disabilities MFD fund-raiser.