Board President Charles J. Smyth (L), Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci present Robert J. Alling his Certificate of Individual Achievement at Wednesday's Quarterly Meeting of the CDR Membership.

CDR Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci recalls the day Robert dropped by the Center to announce that he would participate in the Wheel-A-Thon. “When I asked him if he was part of a team, he said he would do it himself. And how! He raised more by himself than some teams raise,” Gallucci said.

Alling’s award recognized his outstanding achievement raising the most money for CDR’s sixth Annual Wheel-A-Thon, Sept. 25, 2011. Alling raised more than $500, and set a record for an individual in CDR’s Wheel-A-Thon.

“We encourage others to be so inspired to support our programs that benefit disabled youth in our community,” Gallucci said.

The Center for Disability Rights Wheel-A-Thon to benefit young people with disabilities is a fundraising and community awareness campaign to benefit the youth programs and activities of CDR and its partners.  Money raised in 2011 will fund three college scholarships for students with disabilities; Advocacy with students to improve their education; Facilitation Services for youth groups; and CDR youth transition services.

The next Wheel-A-Thon is scheduled to take place Sept.9, 2012, at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 5 Rock St., West Haven, CT.  For more information on how to participate, visit www.wheel-a-thon.org.

Of the more than 100 participants, the Community House had three teams – Folks on Spokes I, II, and III. All three teams swept first, second, and third place in the Disability Challenge Course. The course tested the ability of participants to navigate a wheelchair around corners, ascend and descend ramps and pick things up while in a wheelchair.

The last event took place Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St., in West Haven, Connecticut. It consisted of the Disability Challenge Course (read more about it below).

Members of about a dozen teams of up to 8 members apiece raised at least $25 to be a team member. Individuals who were not part of a team but who raised at least $25 for young people with disabilities participated on the Friends of CDR team.

Each Wheel-A-Thon participant participated in the fun Disability Challenge Course, a new wheelchair experience designed to show the difficulties wheelchair bound persons face everyday.

For more photos from the 2010 Wheel-A-Thon, visit CDR’s Flickr page.

You can download a pdf of the 2010 Wheel-A-Thon brochure here.

The Center for Disability Rights 2010 Wheel-A-Thon to benefit young people with disabilities, took place Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010. It is a fundraising and community awareness campaign to benefit the youth programs and activities of the CDR and its partners.

The top team fundraiser in 2009 was Rick's Rollers, who raised $2,600.

In 2009, on average, teams raised more than $700 each — an increase from $645 per team in 2008. The top team fundraiser in 2009 was Rick’s Rollers, who raised $2,600. All money raised went to support:

• 11 college scholarships for students with disabilities (this year’s academic scholarship form is available here, and this year’s recreational scholarship application form is available here);
• Advocacy with students to improve their education;
• Communication access services for youth with hearing loss involved in peer support programs;
• Facilitation Services for youth groups; and
• CDR youth transition services.

A Great Big Thank You to All of Our Corporate Sponsors!

• Unilever
• East Center Market Place, Wallingford
• Pinpoint Promotions and Production
• Agway
• Amadeus Center for Health and Healing
• Anthony Giordano
• ATG Rehab
• Branford Hall Career Institute
• Gateway Christian Fellowship
• Michael Bolton Charities
• New Britain Medical
• Obie Harrington – Howes
• Spectrum Associates