I am thrilled and honred to be running the TCS NYC marathon on behalf of The Bell Center, a place that has become incredibly important to our family. This race holds a special significance as this will be my 1st marathon. But I am fortunate enough to run in honor of my twin girls, Sofie and Scarlet, who are both currently enrolled at The Bell Center. 

The Bell Center is dedicated to maximizing the potential of children from birth to three years of age, who are at risk of developmental delays in the state of Alabama. Their early intervention program provides high quailty services in a center-based setting in Birmingham, AL. At the Bell Center, infants and toddlers recieve comprehensive care from a transdisciplinary team that includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and early childhood special education teachers. Each child works on specific individualized developmental goals tailored to the child's needs.

Our journey with The Bell Center began when we took our twin girls to their 12 month checkup.They were born prematurely but initally were meeting their milstones. We expressed some concerns over Sofie's development.  She had faced the most health challenges and she was constantly in and out of the hospital sick witjh respiratory issues. She had trouble swallowing/eating, low muscle tone, and a compromised immune system that left her constantly sick. After some observation our pediatrician grew concerns that Sofie was at risk of developmental delays and was in need of early intervention. When we first came to The Bell Center Sofie couldnt crawl on all fours or pull herself to stand let alone walk like her other siblings. Once starting and putting in the work, we saw miracles and that little girl started meeting her milestones. 

Scarlet started attending the Bell Center in Fall 2023, when she started experiencing behavioral problems. She was often overstimulated, having trouble communicating her needs to us, difficulty regulating herself which sometimes resorted to head banging. The support and guidance from the Bell Center have been instrumental in helping her navigate these challenges. 

Running this marathon is a way of giving back to the organization that has given so much to my family. The Bell Center's unwavering commitment to helping children reach their full potential has been a beacon of hope to so many of us families. This race means more to me than any other race I have ran, because i know that these donations will greatly impact so many children in the state of Alabama and their families, just like my own.

Please consider supporting my run and the Bell Center mission to help children reach their full potential. Thank you for your generosity and support.