Tri-Cities special needs families looking for a great kick off to the summer - this week presents a wonderful opportunity: On Friday, June 8, the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation and Masterpiece Ministries will host the Abilities Celebration at Chapelstreet Church, 3435 Keslinger Road in Geneva, Ill.
From 5 to 8 p.m., families will enjoy face painting, balloons, carnival games, bubble fun, a petting zoo, a train ride, workout demonstrations, pizza, vendors and more. (Register asap HERE!) The Abilities Celebration also will host readings from local authors, including Elizabeth Gerlach of St. Charles, Ill., author of this sweet new book...
Elizabeth, founder of the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation, has had such an exciting spring! BEN'S ADVENTURES: A DAY AT THE BEACH released (via Storybook Genius) in May 2018, and she just returned from the Book Expo in NYC, where she signed books and spread the word about her new title.
Our family is so pleased to know the Gerlachs. Here's us connecting last summer at a lemonade stand for Ben Smiles, the charity that Elizabeth and her husband Rob founded in memory of their son Ben. Ben Smiles puts switch toys in the hands of children with special needs - love the mission!
Ben, who attended Buddy Break at Chapelstreet Church alongside our Elsa, passed two years ago. Sweet Ben had many of the same motor and speech abilities as Elsa. Elizabeth's new picture book celebrates his life through unique adventures. So naturally, the star of BEN'S ADVENTURES is... Ben!
Right away, we meet Ben and learn that he has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. His portal to adventure is his imagination, and in this first book, Ben is dreaming of the beach...
In Ben's imagination, he is out of his chair and in the sand - walking with the crabs, building castles, feeling the waves. The text is so full of joy! Ben also experiences special moments with his dad (flying a kite) and his brother and sister (searching for shells)...
Where will Ben's imagination take him next? We'll have to wait to see! Families who have children (or friends) with abilities similar to Ben's will find the spirit of this book so endearing and the illustrations lovely and full of life.
You can read all about BEN'S ADVENTURES (paperback), and purchase a copy, HERE. A portion of the sales benefits the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation. Elizabeth - best of luck on a summer filled with events sharing Ben's story - we'll see you Friday evening!