Approximately 200 Lehigh, Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties residents participated in the 2018 Greater Allentown Walk for Apraxia Sept. 23 to raise funds and awareness for kids with apraxia of speech.

According to an Apraxia Kids news release, “Childhood apraxia of speech is a very challenging and complicated neurological speech disorder.

“This little-known disorder makes it difficult or impossible for children to accurately produce sounds, syllables, and/or words despite having a good understanding of language.

“Walks for Apraxia are held across the country to heighten awareness and funding so all children with apraxia may have access to the support they need to find their voices.”

The Greater Allentown Walk, at Lone Lane Park, Upper Macungie, began with a visit from Moana, kids doing arts and crafts, painting Halloween pictures, face painting, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, games and a raffle.

Before the walk, Coordinator Heather Hamilton honored 23 apraxia stars and the top three fundraisers - Kyle’s Crusaders, Ellina Entourage and Speakin for Scarlett.

“Kyle’s Krusaders raised $5,000. Ellina Entourage raised $1,500 and Speakin for Scarlet raised $1,100,” Hamilton said at the walk.

The total amount brought in was more than $19,000, according to Hamilton.

Dave Hammer, vice president of programs for Apraxia Kids, Pittsburgh, also spoke at the walk.

He said through fundraisers they have been able to give out 100 speech tablets, 68 iPads and 29 Indi Tobii Dynavox all-in-one speech tablets to kids with apraxia and their families.

The day’s events ended with a scavenger walk around Lone Lane Park.

Before the walk, kids and their parents were given a handout titled “Way-Finders Find Your Voice: Help Moana restore the heart of Te Fiti” listing five items including - Set Sail Ocean Table Search, Maui tattoos and stickers, Steal some shiny slime from Tamatoa, Te Fiti’s Lei Flowers and receive your own heart of Te Fiti and find your voice - for them to find on their walk and a bag to place them in.

To learn more about Apraxia Kids, visit apraxia-kids.org.