It seemed the entire community of Checotah rallied for Elaina Donahue’s 2nd Annual Rett Walk & 5K Run this past Saturday. The Checotah Sports Complex was full of locals and visitors from afar who heard about the event and wanted to come show their support.
Elaina Grace was almost two years old when doctors diagnosed her with Rett Syndrome and she turned four in March. Unfortunately, there are no doctors that even treat this disease in the state of Oklahoma so finding support groups are challenging.
However, Elaina’s mimi, Mindy Whittle-Hayes is up for the challenge and even went with her granddaughter in August to see Rett specialists at Rocky Mountain Rett Clinic in Aurora, Colorado.
“This is why we are doing this fundraiser to raise money for doctor visits out of state. Elaina will continue to see a neurologist, a GI specialist and who knows how many specialists. She also has all her therapies – physical, occupational and speech that she has to do. That’s why it means so much to have our community behind us.”
Two families with children that also suffer from Rett’s Syndrome came from OKC and Ft. Smith just to be a part of the event.
Leah and Kevin Rogers came from Ft. Smith with their 4-year-old daughter, Emma Grace, to join the run this year. The couple also came last year. They are expecting their second child, another girl, in November and the race was a little taxing on Leah but she was happy to get to meet up with Elaina and her family once again.
Yadira Mejia from Oklahoma City also brought her 6-year-old daughter, Kimberly, to meet Lexi and Elaina. She was excited to find out about the Rett Run on social media through a support group.
“I found them on a Rett’s family support group on Facebook,” Mejia said. “I was grateful that someone else in Oklahoma knew what I was experiencing. So we were determined to make the run, even though it was a twohour drive which had us leaving at 7 a.m. and was a little challenging with a special needs child. Being here was wonderful because it made us feel like we’re not alone in this fight. There are others out there who are going through the same struggles that we are and we can support each other even from miles away.”
There was plenty to do at this year’s event. Besides the Rett Run, the event had several vendors, a 50-50 chance drawing, a silent auction, a cornhole competition, a 3-on-3 basketball competition and a car show. There was also drunk tank and even the mayor took one for Team Elaina and got a little wet behind the ears.
Local firefighters brought in their big engine and showed their support as well.
Event sponsors this year included: The City of Checotah Dr. Rice June’s Restaurant Mae Mae’s Cookies Beaver Family Dental Wildcat Nutrition Gambino’s Pizza Downtown Fades Slice of Country The Dusty Attic Peoples National Bank Printy Please Ramsey Therapy MAS Madness Boutique Soda Springs Longhorns Safety Fire Extinquishers Sales &Service My Ground Designs Fraternal Order of Police Checotah Lodge #236 R&R Automotive Hair by Brook West Appraisal Service LLC Jerome & Laurie Burkhalter “It was a great turnout for our second year and we couldn’t be more pleased with how the community shows up for one of its own,” Elaina’s papa Jay Hayes said. “To see the support here today just means the world to us. We started this Rett Run just because we wanted to raise awareness about Rett’s Syndrome that our granddaughter has been diagnosed with, but we want to be all inclusive on any type of special needs someone is dealing with on a daily basis. We know it’s hard but like our shirts say ‘Nobody fights alone.’ The biggest part of all of this for us is the support because sometimes you just feel a little helpless. Things are just out of your control but by bringing awareness it just makes us feel like we can do something to make a difference.”
