THE FACES OF CP

There are 18 million people in the world living with cerebral palsy. That's 18 million stories to share with you.

Here are just a few...

Solly

Solomon “Solly” Rodan is a smiling and loving boy who lights up any room he enters. He’s a goofball, he loves to be WILD, and he doesn’t know a stranger. Solly survived three massive strokes at birth, causing damage to over half of his brain.

When he turned one, he was diagnosed with triplegic cerebral palsy. Doctors painted a rather bleak picture of who Solly would become and what he would be able to do. In just a few years, he has already blown away all expectations - and he keeps making bigger strides.

Elizabeth

Thomas Laughlin  is a member of Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation's Council of Governors and he has been an enthusiastic team leader during STEPtember for several years through his job at Kirkland & Ellis. STEPtember has a deeper meaning for him and his wife Caitlin because their daughter, Elizabeth, has cerebral palsy. She has pushed past so many expectations that doctors placed on her, and she motivates Thomas and Caitlin to raise as much as they can and move as much as they can all STEPtember long. They want everyone to know that every dollar makes a difference — and that discoveries made by cerebral palsy researchers can potentially help people with other disabilities, too.

Tyler

Karen Baird is one of Nexstar's most energized STEPtember champions. Her stepson, Tyler, has cerebral palsy and he's her biggest motivation throughout STEPtember, and she loves the way the challenge brings people together and gets them moving for a cause that's so close to her heart. She sets her sights high and she hopes you will, too.

Naomi

Naomi’s smile says it all, and because she’s nonverbal, she and her mom have a ton of inside jokes. So much is said without a word. Naomi's cerebral palsy affects her in a lot of ways, and therapy is critical for her continued development to strengthen her core muscles and her abilities.  She has been getting physical therapy since she was six months old and occupational therapy since she was two years old. She's a ball of positivity and the definition of resilience — and the cerebral palsy research you're supporting could potentially help her say everything she's ever wanted to.

More Faces of CP

Our Faces of CP campaign is an ongoing curation of photos and stories of people with cerebral palsy from all over the United States and around the world.  We want to share as many stories as possible to raise awareness and show the personal side of what it’s like to live with CP.  Discover more stories here.