25 April 2006

PTA program raises funds for former student

HANCEVILLE, AL-- Students in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Wallace State recently held a 5K walk/run to provide financial assistance to the family of eight-month old Breana Stallings. Breana is the daughter of Patrick and PTA program alumnus Jennifer Dunn Stallings.

Stallings Family: Jennifer and Patrick Stallings with baby Breana.

   Breana was diagnosed with hydrocephalus shortly after birth. A CT scan showed significant brain damage and an abnormal amount of fluid around her brain.

   Although doctors fear Breana may never walk, talk, hear or see, she has visited hearing and vision specialists and will soon begin speech and physical therapy in order to attain her highest level of function.

   Students in the PTA program have raised over $2500 to assist with medical bills and costs of intervention therapy.

   “We want to help in any way we can,” said PTA class officer Susan Tolleson.

   Alina Adams, PTA program director, praised the students in the program for organizing and securing sponsors for the 5K walk/run fundraiser.

   A host of students greeted race participants outside the Tom Drake Coliseum, provided water and encouragement during the race, and offered refreshments and door prizes after the race at the Tom Bevill building.

Stallings family with 5K Run/Walk winners Jarod Massy of Red Bay, second place; Athena Naugher of Southside, first place; and Leslie Montgomery of Columbia, TN, third place

   “We have experienced a tremendous outpouring of support from the local community as well as the physical therapy clinical community for such a worthy cause,” said Adams. “I am proud to be surrounded by an outstanding group of students and to be a part of such a caring community,” she added.

   Jennifer Stallings became emotional as she thanked the students, volunteers, and participants for their support. “There are no words to express how much this means,” she said.

   Jennifer and Patrick Stallings have two other daughters, Ashton (8) and Destiny (7).

   Winners of the I Helped Baby Breana 5K Walk/Run were Athena Naugher of Southside, first place; Jarod Massey of Red Bay, second place; and Leslie Montgomery of Columbia, TN, third place.

   For more information on providing assistance to the Stallings family, contact Alina Adams at 256/352-8332 or Robyn Crawford at 256/352-8317.

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Webmaster's note:  For the sake of protecting minors other than hand held babies, I prefer to not associate a name with a face on our website.

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  Katie Free
  Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8033
  E-mail: Katie.Free@WallaceState.edu