By ALISON LESTER
Managing Editor
with reporting by
IAN BENJAMIN
Executive Editor
Published September 13, 2011
The second annual Moving Message Neurogenic Communication Disorders Awareness Walk was held on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the campus green, where free food, drinks, and music by DJMK and Michael Kohn, were provided. All attendees
had the opportunity to register, purchase t-shirts, purchase raffle tickets at 2 for $1.00 and 15 for $5.00, walk, and visit booths for more information on neurogenic communication disorders. All funds raised at the event go to The Moving Message Fund.
The purpose of The Moving Message Fund, which is being established at The College of Saint Rose, is to raise money for services that are not paid for under Medicaid or Medicare as insurance. The event also raises awareness for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries and strokes. The College offers therapy services in The Pauline K. Winkler Speech and Hearing Center, which is inside The Joy S. Emory Center in The Lally School of Education.
The idea for the Walk was inspired by Eileen Lucy, one of the founding members of the group. A stroke awareness walk that Lucy was previously involved in was no longer being held, so Julie Hart and other members of The Communication Support Group decided to hold their own walk. In May 2010, the First Annual Moving Message Awareness Walk (its original title) was held, with $3,000 raised as a result. These funds supported The Ylvisaker Memorial Award, which is in honor of the memory of Dr. Mark Ylvisaker, a speech-language pathologist and Saint Rose faculty member who passed away in May 2009.
This year’s walk raised over $12,000 for The Moving Message Fund.
“This was a nice combination of student involvement, community involvement—those supporting those who have had strokes or brain injuries—and faculty involvement,” said Hart. “We were supported by President Sullivan, who came and walked this morning. The breadth of the involvement was so encouraging.”
Along the sidewalks around the lawn were tips on how people can speak to those with neurogenic disorders, such as “Talk with me, not my aide” and “Encourage me to use gestures while communicating.”
More fundraising events will follow in the future to support this fund.
