February 7, 2025 – MIAMI – EK, a passionate runner living with Cerebral Palsy, teamed up with his brother-in-law, Victor, to form EK’s Team, a group dedicated to raising funds for adaptive equipment to help children with disabilities pursue their athletic dreams. Together, along with a team of 49 members, they launched an initiative to provide a young child living with Cerebral Palsy the chance to participate in the Miami Marathon with the gift of an adaptive wheelchair.
On Wednesday, January 29th just in time for the Miami Marathon, Salma, who also lives with Cerebral Palsy, received her own marathon-adaptive wheelchair. Her family along with Dr. Monica Payares-Lizano, orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital witnessed the surprise.
EK’s Team has raised significant funds to make this initiative possible, bringing together runners and supporters who share a vision of inclusivity and empowerment for children with disabilities. Their efforts are part of a larger campaign to support young athletes and families who face unique challenges.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Your Child Matters Most ™
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. With more than 850 physicians, including over 500 pediatric subspecialists, the hospital and its network of outpatient centers and offices serve close to 70% of children in the Miami market. The only hospital “where your child matters most™,” Nicklaus Children’s is home to the region’s most advanced Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, and its centers of excellence Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children’s Orthopedics, Sports Health and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children’s Brain Institute and Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute. The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Transfer Center, Nick4Kids, and LifeFlight are responsible for transporting and saving close to 5,000 lives a year. Our 307-bed hospital, which is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, has many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children’s is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org
