International fundraising and fitness event raises over $700,000 

More than 5,800 people vote for World CP Day ideas to change the world

Washington, DC (October 17, 2012) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) has announced the final results from the first annual World CP Day and the World CP Challenge, an international awareness and fundraising campaign for people living with cerebral palsy.

World CP Day, held on September 4, marked the beginning of a month dedicated to ideas to make the world a better place for people living with cerebral palsy. 461 ideas were submitted to the “Change my world in 1 minute” contest, which challenged people to come up with ideas that would help individuals with cerebral palsy through improved mobility, independence, accessibility, communication or social connection. Over 5,800 votes were cast, and the World Cerebral Palsy Day Panel is now reviewing the proposals. The winners will be announced in March, 2013, and researchers, innovators and inventors will be given grants to turn their ideas into reality.

World CP Day also served as the kick-off for the World CP Challenge, a month-long event to raise awareness, encourage people to exercise, and raise money to support individuals living with cerebral palsy. Throughout September, teams from around the world exercised and raised donations to help people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. A total of 6,999 people, including 2,183 in the United States, formed teams and entered their activities and fundraising efforts on the World CP Challenge website—and raised a total of $774,399 worldwide.

“The success of our first World CP Day and the World CP Challenge is an incredible achievement, and I am so proud of the efforts of all of those who participated. From innovative ideas submitted to the “Change my world in 1 minute” campaign, to the amount of donations raised, the dedication and commitment throughout the entire month of September was extraordinary,” said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO of UCP. “I applaud the efforts of our teams around the world, and look forward to the exciting work to be done as we continue to strive to ensure that people living with cerebral palsy can live their lives to the fullest.”

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About United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services through an affiliate network to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.