Ella Harris Park will be the setting for the first Positive Impact Alliances’ Walk, Run and Roll on Saturday.
A local charity dedicated to helping people with physical, cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities will hosts its first 5K – the Walk, Run and Roll – at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ella Harris Park.
The Positive Impact Alliances organization was created by Kevin Herman, a physical therapist and owner of Town Square, an adult day- and senior-care center with locations in Marlton and Princeton.
“I work with people with disabilities on a daily basis,” he said. “We asked the community to get an idea as to who needs help. If we could generate interest in the event, we can help someone out there. Positive Impact Alliances is dedicated to empowering individuals with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
“We provide support and advocacy for a broad range of conditions, including, Alzheimer’s, dementia, Down syndrome, autism and other forms of neurodiversity,” Herman added. “Our mission is to foster inclusivity, enhance quality of life, and ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, are given the opportunity to thrive.”
The walk and run event is meant for attendance by those with cognitive and physical disabilities. The park was chosen as the location because of its wheelchair access.
“Ella Harris (Park) is a great place, especially for wheelchairs,” Herman noted.
One of the event’s goals – besides helping disabled people who can’t afford the care they need – is to raise awareness of the resources available for care and treatment.
“There’s a ton of resources out there that people don’t know about,” Herman said. “We hope to be the resource for that community.”
To participate in the walk/run, register for a fee on the Positive Impact Alliances website. Participants are encouraged to show up 30 minutes early on the day of the 5K to receive a number.
“We hope that people with these disabilities get to experience something fun and educational,” Herman pointed out, “while the people caring for them get some respite from it.”
