NSSRA Program Guides Fall 2019 | Page 13

Nearly 250 People Participate in the Sixth Annual ELA Fun Run, Hosted by NSSRA's ELA Program Though welcomed with chilly temperatures and cloudy skies, participants in the sixth annual ELA Fun Run at Maplewood Park in Deerfield were not deterred. The run, held on Friday, May 17, is hosted each year by NSSRA’s Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) Program. Joined by peers from four additional special recreation associations (SRAs), the crowd of runners and walkers grew to nearly 250 by the time the race began at the Deerfield park. Members of the community also came out to participate themselves or cheer those running. Check out www.nssra.org/media for more photos and video! SRAs in Attendance • Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) • Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) • Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) • South East Association for Special Parks & Recreation (SEASPAR) In its sixth year, the ELA Fun Run & Walk was created and planned entirely by ELA participants. The ELA Program is a year-round day program for individuals with disabilities who are 22 years and older. ELA participants worked hard over the last several months planning and organizing the event. They created signs for the path, wrote welcome letters for the other SRAs attending, planned race day activities, put together goodie bags and medals, and invited their friends and families to join them. Each participant was awarded a medal at the event’s end and concluded the day eating lunch together in the park. Also attending the event were representatives from Deerfield- Bannockburn Fire Protection District and volunteers from Deerfield Optical, who gave their time to pass out snacks and encourage runners throughout the morning. Sunset Foods in Northbrook generously provided water and fruit for attendees. Supporting Families, Businesses and Organizations: 33 Realty, D&R Autoworks, Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District, Deerfield Optical, Jewel Osco, Kivarkis Family, Judy Krit, lululemon Old Orchard, Matsumoto Family, Don & Nancy McNair, Schuman Family, Sunset Foods (Northbrook) and Trane. NSSRA | (847) 509-9400 • [email protected] • www.nssra.org ELA HOSTS SIXTH ANNUAL FUN RUN 13