Parkside Parents Run to Support Our School

In less than two weeks on November 4, Dot Cates will run her 10th New York City Marathon. Dot’s son, Oliver, started at Parkside in 2014, and has grown into a more confident, happy, and social child due to the support our school is able to give him. It is Oliver’s progress at Parkside - addressing his struggles with expressive and receptive language, academic skills, attention, sensory integration, and self-care skills - that has inspired his Mom to dedicate her NYC Marathon experience to Parkside, and actively raise money for our school leading up to the marathon.

Dot is the third Parkside parent to run a race in support of our school this fall. Katie Holliday ran more than 435 miles training for the Chicago Marathon, before smiling across the finish line on October 7 in honor of her daughter, Emmy. And Lief Nielsen joined the effort by running the Brooklyn Greenway Half Marathon on October 14. Lief’s daughter, Sona, is one of Parkside’s newest students, already flourishing under the guidance of Parkside’s teachers and therapists.

Dot, Katie and Lief teamed up to raise money for Parkside because they have each been touched by the love and care our school provides for children with language-based learning challenges.

As Dot’s NYC Marathon run approaches, take a moment to learn more about what inspired these parents to lace up their running shoes, and consider supporting their campaign here.