Our Inspiration

Family gathering in living room with decorated Christmas tree, smiling group of adults and children, some sitting on a couch and others standing, in festive sweaters and pajamas.
Six children sitting on a floral-patterned couch wearing matching colorful silk pajamas, with a beige wall and a wooden shelf with decorative items in the background.
A group of six children and a baby posing outdoors in front of a backdrop of trees and bushes. The children are smiling and appear to be enjoying a family gathering.
Woman celebrating birthday in a wheelchair, wearing a crown and a sash that reads 'It's My Birthday', with birthday balloons and decorations in the background.
A young woman smiling joyfully in a wheelchair with a colorful blanket over her lap, holding a young girl sitting on her lap with a pacifier. A man is in the background, leaning over and talking to a small boy, in a cozy living room decorated with framed pictures, flowers, and lamps.
Group of people dressed in snowman costumes, a girl in a wheelchair with a crown, and a person dressed as Elsa from Frozen holding balloons, gathered in a living room with decorations.

Marybeth Scheld

Our inspiration is Marybeth Scheld, the sister of co-founder Kathleen, who was born with CP and as a result has significant intellectual and motor disabilities. The youngest of four siblings, she has persevered and made tremendous impacts on the lives of everyone who knows her. 

Unfortunately, as a young adult Marybeth was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Even after decades of navigating the healthcare system, the process of quickly identifying a specialist to care for her with expertise and respect was daunting for her family. 

We realized there may be many families experiencing similar challenges. CP Extension is about building that community, helping families monetarily and emotionally by arming them with the knowledge and resources to support their loved one with CP and a comorbidity.