WillPower 5K (aka…the best race ever!)
Posted by Sharon
For the past 4 years, Ridgecrest Summer Camps has sponsored the WillPower 5K race. The race was started to raise awareness for HHT. One of our very own camp family members, Will NeSmith, discovered he had this genetic condition by suffering from a spontaneous brain hemorrhage. Here’s a little more about Will’s story (which can also be found at www.willpower5k.com)…
In 2012 while away at summer camp, 12 year old Franklin resident Will NeSmith suffered a spontaneous brain hemorrhage — an event that occurs in less than .001% of the population.
Will spent 3 weeks in a coma and 2 months in the hospital — emerging only to learn he would spend years rehabilitating his brain and body to relearn everything from walking to talking.
To celebrate his survival in 2013 Will launched a beginner-friendly 5K to raise awareness for stroke recovery and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) — the genetic condition that led to Will’s brain bleed.
Since that inaugural race, thousands have completed the WillPower 5K.
Each year, we get a big group a camp friends to go run the race in honor of Will! It’s like a mini camp reunion to get you even more excited about the upcoming summer! Here’s a look at the camp group from the past races…
Consider joining us on Saturday, April 8th in Franklin, TN to support Will and his family as they raise awareness for HHT!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Hemorrhage, HHT, Race, Running, Stroke, Will NeSmith, Willpower, WillPower 5K