What is “TRI” for CP?

“TRI” for CP is a triathlon to be completed by several people who are determined to support Cerebral Palsy research. Many of these individuals will participate as a team; representing the reality that only as a team can we conquer CP. Funds raised through this event will be donated to the David Christopher Brooks Cerebral Palsy Research Fund at Washington University.

David Brooks is a beautiful, intelligent, happy child who, for unknown reasons, has spastic quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy.  David’s condition prevents him from sitting up on his own, playing with toys, feeding himself, chewing well, speaking audibly, etc.  He spends much of his time seeing doctors and doing speech, physical and occupational therapies, being stretched, standing in a stander, and driving power wheelchair.  What David really wants to be doing is playing like any other child.David is not alone—nearly 800,000 children and adults in the U.S. have Cerebral Palsy.  CP is the most common physical disability of childhood and currently affects one in 278 children in the United States.  A new study published in March 2008 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the rates of CP are rising and appeared to have doubled since the 1970s.  The incidence of Cerebral Palsy in children is higher than childhood cancer, hearing and vision loss, spina bifida, fetal alcohol syndrome, cystic fibrosis—and on par with the rate of autism in children 3-10 years old. These children and adults with CP need our help.In 2006, David’s parents set up the David Christopher Brooks Cerebral Palsy Research Fund (the “Brooks CP Research Fund”) at Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis.  Like other parents, David’s mom and dad wanted to contribute to qualified and respected doctors and scientists who are working to improve the lives of people living with CP—they were not sure where to turn.  Inspired by Dr. Janice Brunstrom, Medical Director of  the world-renowned Cerebral Palsy Center and highly praised physician in this field, the Brooks CP Research Fund was set up to fund carefully selected pilot research programs that benefit individuals with CP.      Last year, due to the tremendous support of our first annual TRI for CP, over $125,000 was raised for CP research.  The fund now totals overs $283,000 and our first research project is underway. See Research.