The Executive Director of Greenwich Adult Day Care ran 5K a day for 99 days in honor of the facility’s residents.
Donna Spellman says every client at River House Adult Day Center has a story to tell.
“You may meet people with dementia or other challenges here at Riverhouse, but they are complete people, and I want to know who they are.” says Spellman.
Spellman will feature one story per day for 99 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day as part of the 99-Day Challenge.
That’s what she started six years ago.
Spellman says that running a 5K every day is a tribute to another client, and he wears a t-shirt with the client’s photo on it while running.
“I think that’s a challenge that ends after three miles, as opposed to a challenge that our family faces every day. And I feel obligated to get through it with them.” Spellman says.
Spellman recently partnered with organizations such as the Stanford Senior Center. This year, the center’s executive her director, Christina Crain, joined us and cycled 5 kilometers every day.
“We also did it to raise awareness of older people and their status in the community, because we are a society that often underestimates them,” Crane says.
The challenge ended on Monday, with all 15 participants walking from River House to Cos Cob Park and back.