FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Kaelan Richards: 202-973-7175,

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2013 WORLD CP CHALLENGE 

4-week health and wellness activity raises support for people with disabilities

Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2013) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is pleased to announce that the registration for the 2013 World Cerebral Palsy Challenge is now open.  Register today to join an international competition for good!

UCP launched the World CP Challenge in September 2012 in an effort to provide an accessible health and wellness activity that is proven to promote healthy living and change participants’ health and fitness habits, all while raising awareness and crucial funds for direct services and research for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability resulting from damage to the developing brain, usually before birth. CP is the largest cause of physical disability in children; each year, approximately 10,000 infants in the United States will develop cerebral palsy.

World CP Challenge participants form teams of four and challenge themselves to take 10,000 steps a day, everyday, from September 4 through October 2. Throughout the Challenge, participants log their daily steps online, climbing virtual mountains around the world with each step and receiving weekly fitness tips and healthy recipes. And the ‘steps’ can be any activity—the World CP Challenge is unique in that it enables everyone to be active in their own way with the option to convert more than 40 activities, such as yoga or swimming, into steps. The option to convert almost any activity into steps makes the World CP Challenge available to people of all abilities. Throughout the Challenge, participants can fundraise, with all proceeds supporting services to people with disabilities and cerebral palsy research.

This year, the World CP Challenge will held in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In these countries, the event is known as “Steptember.”

The World CP Challenge is not only a great opportunity for individuals, but for corporations and organizations as well. The Challenge serves as an employee engagement activity, increases productivity and reduces sick days among company employees. Participating companies can have employees compete amongst themselves, as well against other organizations to see who can reach the top of each mountain first.

“UCP and our international partners are thrilled to announce that registration for the 2013 World CP Challenge is now open—and we encourage everyone to check out our website, learn more about the Challenge and sign up! The World CP Challenge is a fun and exciting way to get active, compete against other teams and help to raise support for people with disabilities around the world,” said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “It truly is an international effort to bring people together in support of a great cause. We hope you will join us, and see you on the mountain!”

To learn more about the Challenge, please visit our website, www.worldcpchallenge.org, or contact Sarah Abram at .

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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.

 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Kaelan Richards: 202-973-7175, Alicia Kubert Smith: 202-973-7168,   

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY CELEBRATES FIRST WORLD CP DAY, LAUNCHES GLOBAL FITNESS CHALLENGE

World CP Challenge to raise awareness, support for people living with CP

Washington, DC (September 4, 2012) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) celebrates the first annual World Cerebral Palsy Day today with the launch of the World Cerebral Palsy Challenge, an international awareness and fundraising campaign designed to provide critical funds in support of people living with cerebral palsy.

World CP Day marks the beginning of a month dedicated to making the world better for individuals with cerebral palsy. Through the “Change my World in 1 Minute” campaign, individuals are encouraged to submit videos, texts or audio files of approximately one minute with ideas about how to change the lives of people with cerebral palsy through improved mobility, independence, accessibility, communication or social connection. For the entire month of September, any one can log on and vote at: worldcpday.org for the ideas they think would make a real difference in people’s lives. An international World Cerebral Palsy Day panel will review the most popular submissions and award grants to researchers, innovators and inventors to turn selected ideas into reality.

“We are very excited to be celebrating the first World Cerebral Palsy Day, a day which will help raise awareness and support for people living with CP, as well as make a real difference in their lives. Through the “Change My World in 1 Minute” campaign, innovative ideas and products will be realized and used to improve the lives of millions of people around the world,” said Stephen Bennett, President & CEO of UCP.

Close to 50 nations across the globe are planning awareness activities for the day, a remarkable number for this inaugural years. For a complete list of international organizations participating in the day, go to worldcpday.com.

World CP Day also marks the launch of the World CP Challenge, a month-long campaign that encourages people to get active and support individuals living with cerebral palsy. Throughout September, more than 1,000 teams comprising close to 5,000 participants and organizations around the world will compete as teams to exercise and fundraise. Each team and participant will track their daily steps with a pedometer; however, they are not limited to just walking to participate. The Challenge website offer participants a list of 40 activities —including activities for people living with disabilities— that also can count toward their daily step total. As the team’s steps are entered, their progress will be tracked as they climb their own virtual mountain representing the seven tallest peaks on the globe. The funds raised will support vital services and groundbreaking research to help people with CP.

“The World CP Challenge is a great way for people around the world to step-up, get involved, and support the approximately 57 million Americans living with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, as well as the estimated 650 million individuals worldwide. By committing to just one month of activities, anyone can help to make a lasting difference for those living with and impacted by disabilities,” Bennett said. “I challenge everyone to take part and walk, step, roll or run their way to supporting people with cerebral palsy around the world.”

Cerebral palsy is a physical disability caused by an injury to the developing brain, which usually occurs before birth. It affects movement and is a lifelong condition, but its impact varies from person to person. United Cerebral Palsy works with its nearly 100 affiliates throughout the country to educate, advocate and provide services for people living with a spectrum of disabilities, such as housing, physical therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention services, individual and family support, social and recreational programs, community living, and employment assistance.   

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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.