Oswego County TodayFirst Annual Walk for Apraxia

Apraxia Stars were celebrated, recognized and each received a medal and certificate during the ceremony

The first annual 2025 Syracuse Walk for Apraxia was held on September 27th at Willow Bay to benefit children with apraxia of speech (CAS). Around 190 registrants participated in a 1 mile walk to raise awareness and funds to support the organization Apraxia Kids.

Childhood apraxia of speech is a rare motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for an individual to speak. Treatment includes intense speech therapy and sometimes other therapies to help an individual
reach their highest communication ability, but there is no cure. Raising awareness is one of the most tangible ways that communities at large can help children with apraxia thrive. Increased collective
awareness means that children will be diagnosed faster resulting in better and earlier intervention.

The Walk for Apraxia is the largest community event that celebrates the hard work of our Apraxia Stars, which are children who are diagnosed with CAS. The day included family-friendly activities, a ceremony honoring 12 apraxia stars, games, a lemonade stand and much more.

Samantha Cangro, a mother of a child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and the coordinator of the walk, shares, “Before my daughter’s diagnosis, I had never even heard of apraxia. Through this walk, my
hope was to raise awareness and foster understanding of apraxia, while celebrating the incredible individuals living with it — our Apraxia Stars — and honoring the unique and beautiful qualities that make each of them who they are. I believe we achieved just that”.

The funds raised through the 2025 Walk for Apraxia benefit Apraxia Kids, the leading nonprofit that works to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with childhood apraxia of speech. This
organization educates both families and speech-language professionals so that children with CAS can reach their highest communication potential through accurate diagnosis and appropriate, timely
treatment.

The walk will be an annual event. If you would like to participate in next years walk, be sure to routinely check the Apraxia Kids website for a date and more information!