Relay to Fight SMA (Accardi's)

Nicholas Accardi (4) and Tyler (3) of Centereach, are two brothers both diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA. In short, it is a disease that robs children of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, thus taking away the ability to walk, eat and/or breathe. It is also the number one genetic cause of death in infants. With a tremendous amount of support from family, friends, and the community, we have been able to host two successful fundraisers for the family; the upcoming 3rd annual event  is just a few weeks away. The money raised has assisted the family in starting the many modifications needed to create a handicap accessible home where both boys can navigate freely and independently in their power chairs. 
There is still a great deal of work to be done on their home in addition to purchases of expensive but necessary medical equipment, not covered by insurance. Our next goal is to raise money to get the Accardi family a wheelchair accessible van. It is not only necessary, but imperative, for this family to be able to transport two medically fragile boys in their power chairs.

Stacey Quintanilla and Lindsay Madrigal who are the boys' cousins, and among many family and friends involved in organizing the fundraisers, are on a mission to get funds for this van.
Lindsay, a former Track and Field runner for Centereach HS recently started training again, in hopes to participate in charitable/competitive runs, starting small with a 5K and eventually half/full marathons. This Saturday 7/11/15 she will be running her first 5K, the Color Run, in Eisenhower Park with some friends/former HS athletes. She has decided to make her first 5K "fun" run a charitable one instead, by dedicating it to the boys and their fight against SMA-a cause we are all passionate about. She will also continue to dedicate every mile run through the month of August (SMA awareness month) to the cause and Relay to Fight SMA- dedicating each stride, each lap, each mile to Nicholas, Tyler, and all other warriors and angels of SMA, who can't run.

We are asking you to help us in our family's efforts to raise enough money for a handicap accessible van for the Accardi family, by donating to Relay to Fight SMA any time from now through the end of August. This is one of the ways we are choosing to pay it forward, and you can too with a donation of any size- no amount is too small.  10% of all proceeds will be donated to Cure SMA and the remainder of the money raised will go directly to the family. Thank you in advance for your continued support.