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“Lori’s Voice” Gears Up for Third Annual Walkathon

Posted at 9:01 PM, Jun 13, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-13 23:46:03-04

MARNE, Mich. (June 13, 2014) – Lori Hastings is using her voice to help and inspire others.

“Lori’s Voice”is on a mission to help families with disabled children live normal lives.

Lori lives with Muscular Dystrophy, knowing firsthand the daily struggles with mobility.

“We were trying to figure out a way when Lori`s hands quit working, that she could still do things,” Lori’s husband Dave Hastings says, “and when she got on her computer and she could do the voice recognition, that`s when she decided to write children`s books.”

“No matter what your situation is you can make people better around you,” he says.

Lori’s Voice provides with equipment, educational resources and medical assistance to families with children living with muscular, neurological and degenerative diseases.

“Every child deserves to be able to swing on a swing,” Lori says, “and maybe a swing at the playground does not fit their needs. So we have special swing seats that are adaptive, because every child should be able to do what their siblings do, or other children.”

Hundreds are expected to come out to the Berlin Raceway and walk to raise money for “Lori’s Voice” Saturday.

Children can ride their bikes along the racetrack as the adults walk.  At the event you’ll find a bounce house, race car drivers and a magician.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. with the walk starting at 9 a.m.  The first 400 people receive a t-shirt.

Right now “Lori’s Voice” is raising money for an adaptive playground for athletes of the West Michigan Miracle League.

“We do furnish beach wheelchairs to Grand Haven State Park and up the lakeshore for people to get out,” Dave says. “Be just like every other family,” Dave said.

He says he’s amazed at the amount of people they’ve already been able to help.

And Lori says giving back is where she and Dave find their strength.

“I think Dave and I are both at our best when we can give stuff away – or we`re giving,” she says.

“That’s kind of who we are.”