AHRC Foundation Walk: Mary McNamara

My Mom, Helen, Amanda and Amanda's mom, Sue at lunch together in March of this year! I get to see Amanda lots more now!

I remember the very first time I met Amanda (I am walking with Team Amanda 2022). She was around 5 and I was the babysitter - 12 years old - tops.... How I relied on big brother Mark (maybe 5th grade?) and Karen to teach me - by example - of how to be simply be with a young person that I was afraid of not understanding, and of doing something wrong (or more likely for me, not perfectly.)

What a gift it was to be their babysitter during those years - and every single New Year's Eve until college. I was able to know a this very capable kid, made more so by the love of her brother and sister and parents I have come to marvel at.

While technically I am "outsider" I have been raising awareness and funds to support programs, services and advocacy that advances the lives of people with developmental disabilities (I/DD) for over 30 years. It is very much a family thing that builds upon intergenerational knowledge and relationships forged through true empathy and understanding.

What I have been privileged to experience time and time again is families who, through so many acts both large and small, make the journey just a bit easier for they next family who will start along this road.

And that's what annual AHRC Walk does - it brings this incredible community together with love, understanding and a commitment to move ever forward.

I admit I don't do much walking this day (lots of talking!) but please consider coming down, and making a donation to Team Amanda in honor of the children, adults, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins who are on this journey.