Celebrating community and friendship through fundraiser for MDA

Save the date for a local screening of the award-winning documentary “I’ll Push You” at the Chatham Orpheum Theater the morning of May 24th. I’ll Push You” chronicles a journey of 500 miles, two best friends, and one wheelchair. When our former Latham Board member Deb Cobb shared the news of her involvement in this fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), we knew the special event celebrating generosity, friendship, and community would resonate for many of our Latham families, staff members, and friends.

A film synopsis follows:

It all started with three little words. I’ll Push You is an up-close and personal look into the dynamics of a lifelong friendship between of two best friends – Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray – as they travel across El Camino de Santiago. This feature-length documentary covers the struggle of the 34-day, 500-mile hike across mountains, deserts, hills, and valleys and features perspectives from family and friends. Even though the story begins with the challenges that come with Patrick’s answering of the invitation to push Justin in a wheelchair across northern Spain, it also explores the struggles related to Justin’s rare neurological disease. The parallel paths of Patrick’s experience in Spain and Justin’s life journey come together in a singular moment to reveal to Patrick something unexpected. The story’s beautiful cinematography is set to poignant music tracks that underscore, perfectly, the inspiring example of generosity and vulnerability on display. The film is an intimate portrait of an epic journey and explores the true meaning of friendship, generosity, and vulnerability. It’s a one-of-a-kind documentary chronicling their pilgrimage, which will resonate with viewers craving stories of faith, hope, love, and the power of community. Their trek in 2014 captured the imagination of the world and was featured in the Huffington Post, The Meredith Vieira Show, Der Spiegel, Fox and Friends, and many other outlets. Since their return from Spain, the subjects of the film are sharing their message of hope, faith, and community worldwide.

An anonymous donor has sponsored three of our adult residents and a staff member to attend the film screening. The fundraising event on Thursday, May 24th is open to the public and will begin at 9 a.m. with a meet and greet, followed by the film screening at 10 a.m., then a question and answer session with producer and director Terry Parrish. Tickets for the event to benefit the MDA are available at the Chatham Orpheum Theater (Main Street, Chatham) or online HERE.

We wish the Muscular Dystrophy Association a successful fundraising event!