< Back to front page
Text size
–
+
Medford native hosts event to
benefit families with disabled kids
As
the parent of a child with Down syndrome, Medford native Erin Knyff
knows first-hand the struggle other families face.
Their stories, and the story of her 6-year-old son Liam, are what
motivated her to take action.Knyff and her husband, Adrian, have started a nonprofit, LiamNation, and will hold their first charity event next month. Proceeds from this and future events will go directly to families with handicapped children and local organizations that serve their needs.
For Knyff, starting LiamNation was a way to give meaning to her son's life. Liam was born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with autism a year ago. While Liam has always been a healthy child, many children with Down syndrome experience severe health issues that further limit their mobility and communication skills, Knyff said.
Knyff's first fund-raising event will benefit a family struggling with
those issues. The family's son, Tommy, 8, has Down syndrome and is in
a wheelchair. He has no communication skills and
suffers from epilepsy. One of his parents' biggest challenges is
lifting the growing boy in and out of the car, Knyff said. LiamNation's
first donations will be used to purchase a van for the family.
In the future, Knyff hopes to support smaller institutions that provide services to adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. As a parent of a disabled child, Knyff said she worries what will happen to Liam when she and her husband can no longer care for him.
“That's one of the things that keeps me up at night,” she said. “I don't know what he will be capable of as an adult.”
For the past year, Knyff, a stay at home mom and former radio producer, has poured her energy into creating LiamNation and making its first event a success. With so many organizations hosting fund-raisers for various causes, Knyff wants to make sure this one stands out.
Scheduled for Friday, March 5 at the Tewksbury Country Club, the event will be hosted by Oldies 103.3's Chris Zito and features a comedy show by entertainer Jon Stetson. Silent and live auctions will be offering prizes donated by the Boston Bruins, area restaurants, and resorts. Bidders also could take home a personal chef for a day or a home show from comedian Dave Russo.
To put the event together, Knyff combined forces with fellow Medford native Gary Marino, the child obesity advocate behind the well-known documentary “Million Calorie March.” Marino, once dangerously overweight, has since formed the charity Generation Excel to help children lead healthier lives. Some of proceeds generated by the fund-raiser, dubbed “Generation Liam Nation,” will benefit Marino's wellness programs.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $45 in advance. They can be purchased online or by calling 978-851-8015 or e-mailing Knyff at jkek@comcast.net. For more information visit the LiamNation website.
In the future, Knyff hopes to support smaller institutions that provide services to adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. As a parent of a disabled child, Knyff said she worries what will happen to Liam when she and her husband can no longer care for him.
“That's one of the things that keeps me up at night,” she said. “I don't know what he will be capable of as an adult.”
For the past year, Knyff, a stay at home mom and former radio producer, has poured her energy into creating LiamNation and making its first event a success. With so many organizations hosting fund-raisers for various causes, Knyff wants to make sure this one stands out.
Scheduled for Friday, March 5 at the Tewksbury Country Club, the event will be hosted by Oldies 103.3's Chris Zito and features a comedy show by entertainer Jon Stetson. Silent and live auctions will be offering prizes donated by the Boston Bruins, area restaurants, and resorts. Bidders also could take home a personal chef for a day or a home show from comedian Dave Russo.
To put the event together, Knyff combined forces with fellow Medford native Gary Marino, the child obesity advocate behind the well-known documentary “Million Calorie March.” Marino, once dangerously overweight, has since formed the charity Generation Excel to help children lead healthier lives. Some of proceeds generated by the fund-raiser, dubbed “Generation Liam Nation,” will benefit Marino's wellness programs.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $45 in advance. They can be purchased online or by calling 978-851-8015 or e-mailing Knyff at jkek@comcast.net. For more information visit the LiamNation website.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Waiting for Twitter to feed in the latest...