5k Run/Walk to Benefit Local Kids with Life-Threatening Illnesses

The third annual to support families in San Diego County, whose children are suffering life-threatening illnesses, diseases and disorders, will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 9 a.m. registration 10 a.m. start at Thorp Field in Carlsbad’s Poinsettia Park. Funds generated from this event will go to the foundation; a nonprofit, public benefit 501 (c) (3) organization.  Payments are made directly to the vendor’s for medical expenses not covered, transportation, and more; and 90 per cent of all funds raised go to support qualified families.

“The specific purpose of the foundation is to help as many children and families in the community as possible,” said Brad Thorp, president, and father of Mitchell, who battled an undiagnosed illness, and lost his fight in 2008 at age 18.  “The sudden onset of a child’s life- threatening illness often includes 24/7 care and family hardship, as a way of life.  Our goal is to give hope to families in crisis and to create as much normalcy in the family unit as possible.”

Applications come in monthly for assistance; to date MTF is supporting over 17 local families, who have children with life-threatening health issues.  Among the beneficiaries is the Rico family and their two children, six-year-old Tanner who has  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and 10-year-old Pria, who has Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis,   Pria  has undergone 30 plus surgeries on her larynx, to date.

MTF is also helping to raise funds for two-year-old Amelia Heston’s operation. She was born with multiple craniofacial abnormalities and facio-aricula vertebral malformation spectrum, which causes deafness. Amelia has been designated as a perfect candidate for an auditory brain stem implant (ABI), but there is only a small window of time for the delicate procedure to be successful.

The Foundation also continues to assist the family of two-year-old Izaiah Wallis, who was struck by an alleged drunk teen driver a year ago, and who is under constant medical care at his home, following months of treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital-ICU. 

To help and support these children, and all MTF families, register for MTF’s 5K Walk/Run at mitchellthorp.org. Live entertainment and an array of fun prizes and activities, including raffles and contests, will also round out the day.