2nd Annual Mitchell Thorp Walkathon

On Saturday, January 22, 2011 over a 1,000 people will gather at Carlsbad’s Poinsettia Park for the second annual Mitchell Thorp Foundation Walkathon in support of families whose children are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Funds generated from this event will go to the Foundation; a nonprofit, public benefit 501 (c) (3) organization founded by the Thorp family whose son, Mitchell, battled an undiagnosed illness and lost his fight at the age of 18. The family started the foundation in their son’s name to give back to the community, and to support the many other families in need of assistance. . . “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. “The sudden onset of a child’s life-threatening illness is devastating to a family; 24/7 care and hardship become a way of life, our goal is to create as much normalcy in the family unit as possible.”

Sign-in begins at 9 AM and the walk starts at 10 AM at Poinsettia Park at 6600 Hidden Valley Road in Carlsbad. Follow the jump for all the details.
WALKATHON TO BENEFIT LOCAL KIDS FIGHTING DISEASES

CARLSBAD, Calif. – November 26, 2010 – The second annual Mitchell Thorp Walkathon to support families whose children who are suffering life-threatening illnesses will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10 a.m. at Thorp Field in Carlsbad’s Poinsettia Park. Last year, the inaugural walkathon drew over 1,000 participants and raised over $70,000 – making it possible for the Mitchell Thorp Foundation (MTF) to assist five challenged families, in the San Diego region.

Funds generated from this event will go to the Foundation; a nonprofit, public benefit 501 (c) (3) organization founded by the Thorp family whose son, Mitchell, battled an undiagnosed illness and lost his fight at the age of 18. The family started the foundation in their son’s name to give back to the community, and to support the many other families in need of assistance.

“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. “The sudden onset of a child’s life-threatening illness is devastating to a family; 24/7 care and hardship become a way of life, our goal is to create as much normalcy in the family unit as possible.”

To register for the walkathon, or to make a donation, is possible by visiting www.mitchellthorp.org. Walkers can also sign up at the event at 9 a.m. In addition to the four-mile walk, participants will be treated to entertainment and an array of fun prizes and activities, including raffles and contests.

“I do not know how we could have survived this past year when Sam was going through his cancer ordeal without MTF’s help,” said Cathy Reiser, mother of 17-year-old Sam Reiser, who recently went into remission for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Reisers were one of the five families served by the Foundation this past year. “MTF was with us the whole time, and we were so grateful that Sam could participate at the first walkathon last January. He wanted to be on the course to rally on the walkers, and he is planning to be there again on January 22nd.”

In addition to individual walkers, businesses can support the Walkathon’s efforts to help our region’s challenged children and their families through sponsorship levels: Platinum – $10,000; Gold – $5,000; Silver – $2,500; and Bronze- $1,000. Sponsorships will include appropriate company logos, signage, web site inclusion and complete publicity acknowledgement throughout the event. Businesses can also support the Walkathon by donating raffle items. For more information, including sponsorship details, contact Karen Pearson at 818.416.9033 or visit www.mitchellthorp.org.