(Smithtown, NY) Five extraordinary friends will join together for the second consecutive year on Sunday, May 25th for a 125-mile adventure. The journey will take them from the Brooklyn Bridge to Montauk Point on foot to raise funds for Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), the leading service provider for children and adults with Autism on Long Island, as well as bring about awareness of Autism and other developmental disabilities.
“Our journey from the Brooklyn Bridge to Montauk was more than just 128 miles,” commented Nathan Holmes. “The experience that we had completing “From the Bridge to the Beach: Walking LI for Autism” changed our lives in the most positive way imaginable. The opportunity to meet the children and teachers at several school programs demonstrated to us first-hand the incredible value of the services that DDI provides. We were moved by the warm receptions and motivated to keep walking by the electric enthusiasm when we were sent off on our way, especially from the young students.”
John Kenny, DDI Executive Director John Lessard, and Nathan Holmes celebrate after their 128-mile journey reaching Montauk Lighthouse in 2013. Photo Credit: DDI.
Nathan Holmes and John Kenny will join with Morgan Zajkowski, Liam Kenny, and Michael Sardone for the seven-day expedition, averaging 17.9 miles per day with stops along the way will include multiple DDI sites. A map of the route will be available on DDIs website and followers are encouraged to join the walkers on their journey. Funds raised will go towards DDI’s Little Plains School and Children’s Residential Project. This ambitious project not only includes a new home and added classroom capacity at the school for 24 children with Autism, but includes sorely needed renovations to the school building, which is over 50 years old. New handicap accessibility, an HVAC system upgrade, roof replacement, lighting upgrades and various other improvements to increase the energy-efficiency of the school building will be included in the work.
“Before the walk, our visit to the Little Plains site made it obvious how necessary the fundraising effort was in order to renovate the school,” stated John Kenny. “Our ability to raise $22,000 for the walk last year to contribute to the renovation project was both incredibly humbling and encouraging. It’s an exciting opportunity to try to exceed last year’s fundraising total and make another financial contribution to DDI in support of their mission to help those with developmental disabilities. “
DDI is a not-for-profit agency headquartered in Smithtown, NY, with more than 30 locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Serving nearly 1,000 children and adults with a diagnosis of an autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DDI is the largest provider of services for individuals with Autism on Long Island. It provides special educational, vocational, day and residential programs, as well as healthcare services for over 5,000 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. DDI also operates family-centered preschool programs for both children with disabilities as well as typically developing students. DDI was founded in 1961 by a group of parents to address the special educational and therapeutic needs of their children with autism or other developmental disabilities. DDI is a member agency of the United Way of Long Island. For more information about DDI, visit www.ddiny.org.
