2022 Walk for Apraxia Overview

The 2022 Walk for Apraxia marked the 15th anniversary of annual gatherings across North America for supporters to spread awareness about childhood apraxia of speech and raise funds for Apraxia Kids.  What began as a small event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the largest initiative of Apraxia Kids to recognize the hard work of our Apraxia Stars through ceremony and celebration.

Altogether, Walk for Apraxia events were held in 57 U.S.and Canadian locations across our community!  Those who could not attend an in-person Walk had the opportunity to join us as part of the Virtual Walk for Apraxia.  No matter how participants gathered, all ceremonies continued to focus on the hope that began 15 years ago and evolved into the traditions we have today. To view photos of the many amazing participants who walked in 2022, search #WalkforApraxia on all social media platforms or view the photo albums on Facebook!

Read more about the “Reflections on the Walk for Apraxia – 15 Years Later,” written by Sue Freiburger,
the parent who organized and planned the first Walk in 2008.

2022 Walk for Apraxia Volunteers

Volunteers are the driving force behind the Walk for Apraxia. Each event is directed by a Volunteer Walk Coordinator (WC) who is supported by a Planning Team. WCs are individuals who courageously step into this role with a heart and passion for helping us expand our reach and further our mission. Without their dedication to the Walk for Apraxia, we could not accomplish all that we do. 

Thank you to the 2022 Walk for Apraxia Volunteer Walk Coordinators!

Walk Location and Walk Coordinator(s)

2022 Akron Walk for Apraxia – Allison Dudley, Gina Nylund
2022 Arkansas Walk for Apraxia – Wendy Lyon, Janaye Russ
2022 Atlanta Walk for Apraxia – Jocelyn Stargell-Zachery
2022 Baltimore Walk for Apraxia – Lauren Hoffman, Kate Crosen
2022 Boise Walk for Apraxia – Kayla Heap
2022 Boston Walk for Apraxia – Lesley Berger
2022 Calgary Walk for Apraxia – Sara Buckingham
2022 Cedar Rapid Walk for Apraxia – Liz Breen
2022 Central New Jersey Walk for Apraxia – Jenny Kuhta
2022 Chicago Walk for Apraxia – Jena Lohrens-Becker
2022 Cincinnati Walk for Apraxia – Nakeeshia Rosser
2022 Columbus Walk for Apraxia – Megan Stivers
2022 DC Walk for Apraxia – Alita-Geri Carter, Ricardo Carter
2022 Denver Walk for Apraxia – Arielle Whitacre, Heather Skender
2022 Deschutes County Walk for Apraxia – Natosha Frandsen
2022 Edmonton Walk for Apraxia – Roxana Wackenhut
2022 El Paso Walk for Apraxia – Rosa Rodriguez, Viviana Cabral
2022 Fargo Walk for Apraxia – Stacy Kemmerling
2022 Fresno Walk for Apraxia – Aubrie Hagopian, Megan Jones
2022 Greater Albany Walk for Apraxia – Tara Boutin
2022 Greater Allentown Walk for Apraxia – Heather Hamilton
2022 Greater Hartford Walk for Apraxia – Laura Lawson
2022 Guelph Walk for Apraxia – Michelle Adach
2022 Hampton Roads Walk for Apraxia – Jessica Santo, Meredith Short
2022 Hershey Walk for Apraxia – Nicole Auker
2022 Houston Walk for Apraxia – Christine Cooper
2022 Long Island Walk for Apraxia – Sharon Diwby
2022 Louisville Walk for Apraxia – Sarah Wiljanen
2022 Medicine Hat Walk for Apraxia – Jennie Nichols, Tiffany Vossler
2022 Nashville Walk for Apraxia – Brittney Eckenrode
2022 Nebraska Walk for Apraxia – Krista Meyer, Liesal Hoffman
2022 Nevada Walk for Apraxia – Jocelyn Wells, Ashley Winer
2022 New Hampshire Walk for Apraxia – Rosie Emrich
2022 North Central Pennsylvania Walk for Apraxia – Kali Grumley, Kelli Surra
2022 North Texas Walk for Apraxia – Breanna Waldrup
2022 Oklahoma City Walk for Apraxia – Stephanie Warman, Amy Hightower
2022 Oklahoma State Walk for Apraxia – Bailey Smith
2022 Orange County Walk for Apraxia – Tameka Baccus
2022 Orlando Walk for Apraxia – Becky Morey, Carla Hall
2022 Ottawa Walk for Apraxia – Shauna Haight, Krista Simon
2022 Philadelphia Walk for Apraxia – Trish Mayro
2022 Phoenix Walk for Apraxia – Ruthie Lichtenwaldt
2022 Sacramento Walk for Apraxia – Christina Sisterman
2022 San Francisco Walk for Apraxia – Cierra Crowe
2022 Sarasota Walk for Apraxia – Lauren Bercaw
2022 South Florida Walk for Apraxia – Samantha Novick, Tania Glantzis
2022 Southwest Gulf Coast Walk for Apraxia – Tammy Sturtevant, Adriana Falcon
2022 Southwest Wisconsin Walk for Apraxia – Bridget Tippett
2022 St. Louis Walk for Apraxia – Angie Frauenhoffer
2022 Topeka Walk for Apraxia – Jamie Atwood
2022 Triad Walk for Apraxia – Ashley Pinyan
2022 Tucson Walk for Apraxia – Samantha Molitor
2022 Tulsa Walk for Apraxia – Kassi Nance, Robyn Servals
2022 Twin Cities Walk for Apraxia – Angie Gibbs
2022 Westchester Walk for Apraxia – Kristen Polidoro
2022 Western New York Walk for Apraxia – Mykalene Perl

What are the Walk for Apraxia Volunteer roles?

• Walk Coordinator – lead volunteer for the planning and execution of the Walk for Apraxia.
• Walk Co-coordinator – supports and enhances the Coordinator’s role.
• Planning Team Members – Individuals who fill various roles helping with sponsorship, outreach, and team engagement.
• Day of Event Volunteers – individuals who volunteer on Walk day to complete tasks such as set-up, clean-up, administrative duties, activities, and more!

Walk for Apraxia Sponsors

Organizations, businesses, and individuals who sponsor the Walk for Apraxia contribute in a unique way to make Walk day special, thus supporting the overall programs, resources, and research offered by Apraxia Kids. Their contributions  help make a difference in the lives of children with CAS.

In 2022, our Walk for Apraxia cash sponsors contributed a total of $75,821.85.  Our Media and In-Kind sponsors, who provided services or goods to enhance the Walk day experience, were valued at $87,994.07.  Thanks to all of our generous sponsors!

National Sponsor

Star – $5,000

Favored Conferences & Event – Triad Walk for Apraxia
Kelli Mae Photography – Nebraska Walk for Apraxi
River Park Medical Clinic – North Texas Walk for Apraxia

Media

98.3 K-Love – Pittsburgh Walk for Apraxia
K-Love & Air1 – Akron, Cincinnati, Philadelphia
KCRG-TV9 – Cedar Rapids Walk for Apraxia

Elite – $2,000

Alpine Insurance & Financial Aid
APF Entertainment
Arizona Comfort Zone LLC
Boomershine Consulting Group, LLC
Championship Billiards Charity
Curbside Confections
Hebron Lions Club
Kaufman Children’s Center for Speech, Language, Sensory – Motor & Autism Treatment
Micah Brown Media
Painted Parrot Facepainting
Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
Princess Parties by Mimi
Sealand Quality Foods
SOS Construction Services, LLC
Sports Clips
We Rock the Spectrum Triad

Platinum – $1,000

AAA Pallet Co
Ashford Inc.
Boise Speech and Hearing Clinic
Capture Your Moments by Sarah
Celebrate Kids
Cindy Gunter Photography
Crosen Homes
Dairy Queen of Westbrook, CT
Daniel Ivanov – Pursuit Home Group
Dynamic Lynks
Enerplus Resources Inc.
Hollaender Manufacturing Company
Lyly Noble Photography
Megan Garfield Photography
Midwestern University

Music Blast DJs
ONE Cares
Pacific Service Credit Union
Palm Printing
Penn State Health
RightWay Construction
Roger Williams Academy
Scott Family Amazeum
Skill Builders
Southland Sports Association
Speech Pathways
Summit Pediatric Therapy
T.E.A.M. 4 Kids Pediatric Therapy
The Carruth Center
Warren Pearce & Co., Inc.

Gold – $500

ACCESS Group Inc.
All In Entertainment
Apraxia Dallas
Balloon Moms
Balloon Palace LLC
Best Buy – Winston-Salem
Blue Water Speech Therapy
Bridge Therapy
Caffeine Buzz Coffee
Call Spots
Chick-Fil-A (Denver)
Childhood Apraxia & Speech Therapy Services
Collaborative Approach Therapy Services
Communications Foundations
Cross Insurance
Daisy Mae Photos
Decadently Yours
Dentistry for Children
DJ Dave
DJ Jimbo Entertainment
Dolgin-Lieberman & Vozzella Apraxia Speech
Dream Big Pediatrics
Dunkin – N. Flanders
Dynamo Freight, LLC
EMF Entertainment
Evening with the Stars Entertainment
Express Medals
Fun Services
Funky Monkey Magic
Golkow Hessel
Gypsy Rose Facepaints LLC

Hannah Brothers Catering
Herc Rentals
Hershey American Legion Post 386
Hershey Memorial VFW Post 3502
HMS & Associates
Infintiy Kids
Inspiring Communications thru Adaptation & Nurturing, PLLC
Ivy Rehab for Kids
Key Bank
King & Edge Real Estate
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital
Let’s Talk Speech & Language Therapy Services
Lithia Subaru of Fresno
Little Hands
Lolly Jolly Waffles
M.O. Graphics
Meadows Property Group
Meredith White Speech Pathology
Mi Ofrenda LLC
Myo Speech and Feeding Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Notion LLC
On Spot Therapy
Pappas Landcare and Construction
Pathways Pediatric Services
Pediatric Communication Center
Penbrooke Meadows Community Association
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers (Nebraska)
Redmond Speech & Language
Ridge Zeller Therapy
Rinehart Family Eye Care
Rooney Tunes Entertainment
RugPad US

SafeSplash Swim School
Speakology, LLC
Speech and Beyond Pediatric Therapy
Speech Point
Speech School for Parents
Sports.N.Cards
Stewart’s Shops
Subway (Nebraska)
Sun City Firefighters Charities
Sunny Spot Therapy
Super Hero Rental of Arizona
Synaptic Pediatric Therapies
Tara Winstead
Team Select Home Care
The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh
The Greene Law Firm, PLLC
The Imagination Project
The Imagination Group, PC
The Laura Ashley Real Estate Team
The Madison Center
The Talk Team
Treehouse Therapies
Turner Security Powered by Techcore
Uptown Balloons
Veridian Credit Union
Vivid Eyecare, Cranston Market
Yester.co

Silver – $250

@KristiDanceKrew
Achieve Therapy Center
Anna’s Bagel & Deli
Behavior Therapy International
Beyond the Spectrum, Inc.
Big Blue Swim School
Catalina Marketing Charitable Foundation
Central Hose Social Club
Centrepointe Professional Services
CI Pediatric Therapy Centers
Code Ninjas Centennial Hills
Columbus Therapy Associates, LLC
Cranston Market Dental
Dave’s Cast of Characters, Inc.
DeLand Crafts
Destination Arts
Elevate Health PA
EssentiallybyTiffany, LLC
Expert Island
Fia Entertainment
Gnomes & More LLC
Guelph Speech Solutions

H & H Woodworking Inc.
Healing Reins Therapeutic Riding Center
Jim Williams Photography
Joanne Martin, Broker – Royal Lepage Team
Katy Speech and Language
Kid Talk
Kids Can Do
KidsPark Murfreesboro
Loankea
T. Laney Company Inc.
Marcos The DJ Guy
Mary Sturm
MD Chesapeake NAPNAP Chapter
Michelle Berman Mikel
Mineral Point Lions Club
Nicole Thorp Devens, M.S. CCC/SLP
Northeast Speech Pathology
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College

Pediatric Speech and Language Services
Perry Veterinary Clinic
Positive Solutions Behavior Group, LLC
R & R Pizza Express
Reach for Speech
Rebel Solutions, LLC
Ruthie Lumbardo – Realty ONE Group
Skyn by Chi
Speech & Language Center at Stone Oak
Stacy’s Sensory Solutions
Strive to Thrive Therapy
Sweet Cheeks Body Sugaring
Texas AirSystems
The Magic of Plaz
The Speech Tree
Therapeutic Potentials, Inc.
Tippett Lawn Care
Uptown Events by Chantal Cummins
Yesway Convenience Stores
Yosemite Farm Credit ACA

Bronze – $100

Abbott Furnace
Bodnar Speech
Communication Works
Debbie and Marc Zurnoff
Dow Gutters
Falling Waters Injury & Health Management
Fisher, Collins, & Carter, Inc.
Good Shepherd Pediatrics
Grace Kids
Heritage Realty
Home Depot (Deschutes County)

Interact Therapy
JAMS Music
Jenny Bakes SRQ
LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Westchester
Magnolia’s Southern Sno-Balls
McMillan Plumbing & Heating
Original Luigi’s Pizza
Roundabout Books
Sankofa Montessori
Soothing Ways

Success by Design Education
SunKissed Greenz
The Chocolate Lab Inc.
Thoroughbred Title
Upland Hills Health Hospital & Clinics
Urban Perception
Wells Communication and Feeding Therapy
West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union
Westside Church

We look forward to sustaining our current Walk for Apraxia partnerships along with building new relationships in 2023.  If you are interested in more information about our sponsorship packages or exploring a Regional or National sponsorship, please email sponsorship@apraxia-kids.org.

NSSLHA Chapter Challenge

Thank you to the college students and their supporters who participated in the 2022 Walk for Apraxia NSSLHA Chapter Challenge!  Once again, Apraxia Kids was blown away by the awareness and fundraising efforts of these teams. Some NSSLHA chapters volunteered on Walk day or joined the Walk as participants, while others participated virtually and hosted their own awareness day on campus.

Apraxia Kids is proud to announce the top three fundraising NSSLHA teams.  They earned an educational, interactive Zoom session with an SLP specializing in CAS and a parent of a child with apraxia.

 Congratulations!

NSSLHA PennWest California – Pittsburgh Walk for Apraxia
NSSLHA Chapter of USC – Virtual Walk for Apraxia
FIU NSSLHA – South Florida Walk for Apraxia

The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders recognized by ASHA.

Champions Club & Grand Champions Club members

Apraxia kids is thrilled to give a special recognition to those whose Walk for Apraxia fundraising efforts go above and beyond. Teams who raise $1,000 become a part of our Champions Club, and those who raise $5,000 join the Grand Champions Club! These teams and team captains receive a variety of benefits as a token of our appreciation. 

Thank you to the 2022 Walk for Apraxia teams in both our Champions and Grand Champions Clubs!  Visit the 2022 Champions & Grand Champions Club Members photo album on Facebook to view photos of our club members!

Summer Team Challenge

During the summer, Apraxia Kids challenged our Walk for Apraxia teams to achieve two goals by July 31 – register five team members and raise $500.  Teams who met these goals by the deadline earned an official Walk for Apraxia sign featuring their team name.  

Thank you to all of those teams who participated and congratulations to these Walk for Apraxia teams who earned their sign!

A voice for Bennett
Aiden’s Voices
Aidy’s Rock Stars
AJ’s Team
Alex’s Super Team
Aloud for Anella
Aydin Voice
Bizzy B
Blue Water
Buzzing for Mikhail’s voice
Cade’s Southside Chargers
Caleb’s Word Warriors
Castellucci Champs
Charlie’s Angels
Chase’s Crusaders
Chasing Mavericks Voice
Clark’s Warriors
Cooper’s All-Stars
Crosby Ocean’s 11
Dalton’s Defenders
Dylan and the Minecrafters
Eli’s Entourage
Eli’s Voice
Emma’s All Stars
Eric’s Entourage
Gabe’s Gang
Gabriel’s Groupies
Gideon’s Gang
Girl Talk
Graysen’s Buddies
G’s Force
Happy Butterflies
Hayden’s Voice
Hope for Hudson
Hudson’s Bananas

I am Nolan
Imagine Ian
Jack & the Beanstalks
Jacob’s Cheer Squad
Jameson’s Rangers
Josie’s Crew
JV Team
Kalynn’s Krew
Kyle’s Krusaders
Little Hands
Logansarus Rex
Luke – The Force
Macey’s Crew
Marlowes Army
Mason’s Bricklayers
Maya’s March
Mia and Bianca’s Marvels
Myo Speech and Feeding Center
Mystical Madeleine
Nathan’s Speech Superstars
Optimistic Austin
Owen’s Dinos
Parker’s Pack
Patton’s 4th armored division
Peyton’s Peeps
Racin’ for Greyson
Reese’s Unicorns and Rainbows
Rowan’s Monkey Troop
Ryan’s Walk Flock
Sage’s Voice Village
Shauna Haight Speech Language Pathology
Shawn’s All Stars
SOS Construction Services
Speech Pathway
Super Seth
Sweet Caroline

Team ACE BOOGIE
Team AWEsome
Team Cameron
Team Easy E
Team E-MAN
Team Hogi
Team Jayden
Team K
Team Logan
Team M & M
Team Magic Mike
Team Maria
Team Nora
Team Oliver
Team Ry
Team Ryan – Apraxia Warrior!
Team sMiles
Team Thompson Texas
Team Ty
Team Zacky
Temple CSD / CASTLE Camp
The Mighty Meyer Boys
The Sour Bunch
The Warriors
T-Rhett Dinos
Twisted Wristers
Westyn & Landyn’s Warriors

Preparing for the 2023 Walk for Apraxia

You might ask, “When should I start preparing for the 2023 Walk for Apraxia?”  The answer is NOW!  Apraxia Kids will begin launching the official Walk webpages by the end of February.  So  start checking our Walk Home Page for a location nearest to you!   

In the meantime, here are some ideas to kick off your 2023 Walk for Apraxia experience:

1.  Follow the Walk for Apraxia public page and join the Apraxia Kids Walk Team Captains private group on Facebook to stay up-to-date on current Walk for Apraxia details and to engage with other team captains.
2. Engage your team members early – plan a virtual kick-off party!  Share your 2023 Walk for Apraxia plans, discuss your goals, talk about your experience with childhood apraxia of speech, and remind team members you will inform them when registration is open. If you support an Apraxia Star, let team members know about your star’s progress!
3. Prepare a fundraising timeline to reach your 2023 goal.  Make a plan on how you will raise funds by utilizing different techniques or smaller fundraisers.  Break down your overall fundraising goal into smaller, easily attainable monthly or weekly goals.