Severna Park Middle School Student Serves as Event Director for Chiari Walk;
Raises awareness and more than $25K for Foundation
Millersville, MD — On Saturday, September 17, 2011, Kinder Farm Park hosted the first ever local version of Conquer Chiari Walk Across America in Maryland. The local walk was one of 47 total CCWAA walk sites in 32 states and more than 400 people attended, including more than 325 walkers along two different courses. 25 Chiari patients were also in attendance, including the Event Director, 12 year old Megan Killpatrick, a 7th grade student at Severna Park Middle School. All told, the event raised awareness of a rare medical condition— along with more than $25,000.
The original goals of the event were to raise $10,000, matching Megan’s own personal fundraising from the last two years, and have 300 people attend the walk. Megan, with the help of her family, friends and the local community, “smashed” those goals and hosted a fun and festive active event with walkers, runners and young kids all enjoying a day at Kinder Farm Park.
The crowd included a large group of Megan’s friends from SPMS, led by Team Manager Tess Constantine. The girls came to Saturday’s event dressed in hand-crafted team tee-shirts, bringing almost $1200 in funds they raised by going door to door in their Shipley’s Choice neighborhood. Tess’ Terrific Team was one of 21 fundraising teams that attended the walk.
In addition to hospitality, prizes and a special celebrity guest appearance by the Chick-Fil-A Cow of Pasadena, the “Kids Can Conquer, Too” event included an interactive Tae Kwon Do demonstration by Master Curtis Cash of Kick Xplosion of Pasadena. There were also arts and crafts activities along with active games and a lacrosse skills station hosted by Steve Morgan of Diamondback Lacrosse Club. The Grand Prize Raffle – “A Weekend With The Baltimore Ravens”- was won by the Blumenberg Family of Millersville.
Megan’s father, Pat Killpatrick, said in his opening remarks at the event, “I’ve never been good at asking for help from anyone, and this walk has been an amazing journey for us. For the first time, we have expanded our comfort zone and shared Megan’s story with people other than our family and closest friends. She is a great kid and we have been overwhelmed by the amount of people who want to support Megan and others like her.” It’s been an experience that the Killpatricks will never forget.
Megan’s parents, Pat and Cheryl Killpatrick of Millersville, are thankful for the generosity and support of their community and were thrilled to welcome new friends to their circle as they met fellow Chiari families right here in Maryland. The Killpatricks hope to start planning soon for next year’s event, which is already scheduled for September 22, 2012.
For more information on Chiari Malformation or to donate and help Megan in her quest to “completely conquer Chiari”, please visit www.conquerchiari.org.
