Nashville Kids Show Their Strength at Walk for Apraxia
Nashville, Tenn. (WTF) — In a heartwarming display of resilience and community spirit, 12 bright children gathered to walk a mile this past Saturday in the annual Walk for Apraxia. This year, they raised over $21,000 to support programs for kids dealing with apraxia, a speech disorder that affects how thoughts translate into coordinated speech. Margot, a spunky 9-year-old, shared her experience using a device that helps her express her thoughts. “Apraxia means my brain makes me talk funny,” she shared, and her smile lit up the room.
Understanding Apraxia
To put it simply, apraxia is when there’s a hiccup in communication between the brain and the muscles that produce speech. As Margot’s speech therapist, Sydney Bridenstine, explained it, “Margot thinks about what she wants to say, knows what she wants to say, but when that message is sent to the muscles of her mouth, it’s not coming out the way she wants.” This condition affects only about 1 in every 1,000 children, making it a relatively rare, albeit challenging, disorder.
Celebrating Community Support
This year’s walk brought together families, friends, and local businesses in a show of support for children like Margot. Ashley, Margot’s devoted mom, spearheaded the event and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support they received. “We are really lucky. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for all the support from our community,” she said with tears of joy in her eyes.
Since Ashley took over organizing, it has blossomed into a larger community event, as she reached out to several friends who are small business owners for help. Every dollar raised goes directly to programs that empower kids with apraxia, helping them gain better communication skills and confidence.
A Second Family
Sydney, who has been a guiding star for Margot and her family for the past seven years, expressed her deep bond with them. “Her family has become like a second family to me,” Sydney said warmly. Her passion for helping children with apraxia was ignited through her work with Margot, and now she runs her own speech therapy business called Olive Branch Speech Therapy, where her mission is to assist kids with similar challenges.
Encouraging Kindness and Understanding
Throughout our conversation, Margot’s enthusiasm shone through. When asked what she would like other children to do when they meet someone with apraxia, her answer was sweet and simple: “Ask kids like me to play. Please use kindness and patience. Ask questions about apraxia or other differences.”
Fostering Connections
The event brought together not just families, but a community eager to learn and understand more. When asked how it felt to be with other kids like her, Margot smiled brightly, saying, “Happy!” Her joy and resilience were palpable, embodying the spirit of the day.
For anyone interested in supporting kids with apraxia, donations can be made online, ensuring that more resources and programs are available to help these kids thrive. As Margot and her friends have shown us, every step taken together, no matter how small, can lead to significant change.
By embracing differences and fostering connections, Nashville continues to prove that community can make a world of difference for children facing challenges.
