Walk To Benefit Children With Speech Disorder Set for Saturday

FRANKFORT, IL — Downtown Frankfort will be the site Saturday for the 2021 Walk for Apraxia, a free event to raise awareness and fundraise for children who are diagnosed with the speech disorder. Childhood apraxia of speech, or CAS, is "an uncommon speech disorder in which a child has difficulty making accurate movements when speaking," according to information from the Mayo Clinic.

The walk is scheduled to last from 9-10:30 a.m. at Breidert Green Park at Kansas and White Streets, with a ceremony to follow at 10:30 a.m. to noon. The ceremony will feature speakers and recognition of Apraxia Stars, the children who are diagnosed with CAS.

A DJ will be on site to provide live music, a magician and a balloon artist who will be a part of the walk, according to Volunteer Walk Coordinator Jena Lohrens-Becker, a Frankfort resident and a speech pathologist who works with children with apraxia. Walk sponsors will also be on site giving away free trinkets and educational materials, she said.

Participants can join in the walk at any time and do not need to walk for the full hour-and-a-half, Lohrens-Becker.

The Walk for Apraxia started in 2008, Lohrens-Becker said. This is the first year the walk will be held in Frankfort, she said. So far, almost $27,000 has been raised for Apraxia Kids, the nonprofit organization that hosts Walk for Apraxia. Nearly 300 people have already signed up for the walk, Lohrens-Becker.

"All funds raised go to supporting the families, the kids, educating the community and educating other speech pathologists because it is a rare speech disorder," Lohrens-Becker said. "... Yes, we want to raise money because that's what supports our community, but, really, we want to get the word out. So, I'm excited to bring this to the Frankfort community and get people talking and asking, 'What are you walking for?' and spreading the word about what apraxia is to gain that support."

There is no coast to participate in the Walk for Apraxia. Those who wish to make a donation can do so at the event Saturday, or online through the Apraxia Kids website.

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