The room fell silent when two mothers of young disabled children enrolled in the Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center’s preschool program cried tears of joy while describing their children’s progress at the Easter Seals Fun Walk’s kickoff event.

Several people in the audience cried with them.

That moment showed me just how much we as a community love and understand each other’s struggles. And ultimately, we would like to do as much as we can to reduce the burden of those hardships.

The annual Easter Seals Fun Walk at Memorial Stadium April 11 at 9 a.m. is an excellent, exciting way to do just that.

Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. followed by the walk at 10 a.m. It costs $20 to register a team or individual. Anyone younger than 12-years-old, can register for free.

Those that register will receive a free t-shirt with the Fun Walk logo on it.

The proceeds from the walk will fund operational costs at the Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center, which strives to provide people with disabilities equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.

The beauty of the success stories of the Easter Seals Fun Walk ambassadors let me know that it is undoubtedly worth our participation.

Last year, 4-year-old Miles Knox, who has autism, was enrolled in center’s pre-school program as a non-communicative child. Miles has become more vocal since he began the program and will be enrolled in a mainstream head start school.

When 3-year-old Kaylee Goodman, who has cerebral palsy, joined the pre-school program at the Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center in late November, she could not stand and could only sit up if she used her fingertips to balance herself. After months of therapy, Kaylee is now able to sit up independently, wave, crawl and more.

According to the rehabilitation center’s staff, a physical therapist announced that with continued treatment from the center, she would be able to walk.

If for some reason you are not able to make it to the walk, you can stop by Dave’s Market April 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and purchase hotdogs, polish sausages and sodas at the organization’s other fundraiser.  Those proceeds will also fund operational costs for the Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center.

I have faith that the Dallas County community will help the center reach it $15,000 goal. Program Coordinator Rachel Ratcliff of Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center reported that the walk had generated approximately $9,700 Monday afternoon, so we are not far from reaching that goal.

Do not be shy to donate any amount, no matter how small, because every little bit helps a great cause that can bring great benefits to those that need them most.

We need to make sure that the Easter Seals West Central Alabama Rehabilitation Center has the opportunity, resources and support needed to help our disabled community.

For more information about the Easter Seals Fun Walk and general information about the center, call the organization at 872-8421.