Dr. Jim Childs (shown with his wife, Rose Ann), a leading layman in the West Kittanning (PA) Grace Brethren Church (Mark Cornwell, pastor), continues rehabilitation from a devastating fall last April. This article, from today’s Kittanning Leader Times, tells of an event to help the family. You can keep up with Dr. Childs’ progress at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimchilds
By Renatta Signorini
Leader Times
Monday, October 1, 2007
When doing something good for a community, a volunteer might not think of how it will benefit himself or herself in the future.
Sometimes, good deeds will leave an impression on others who, in turn, wouldn’t think twice before offering up their help when something unexpected happens.
Organizers of this weekend’s Community Spirit Day, held by Grace Brethren Church, took on planning the yearly festival when an accident left its originator unable to take charge. Several events, including a 5K race, will be held in Dr. James C. Childs’ honor and for his family’s benefit.
Childs, an ACMH Hospital pathologist, fell down a 250-foot cliff behind Morris Tire. along Route 268 near Butler Road in April. Childs suffered a serious spinal cord injury in the fall.
Proceeds from the race will benefit the Childs family who has had to make their East Franklin home wheelchair accessible, according to Childs’ son Tom.
“There’ve been a lot of changes in the house,” he said.
Leigh Harvey, a church member, said she wanted to have the race and use the proceeds to help the Childs family with costs.
“He’s very big into physical fitness,” Harvey said, adding that Childs always rode his bike even in the middle of winter.
Bob Seyler, who is a church member helping organize this year’s Spirit Day, said Childs founded the event about five years ago. Childs was the driving force behind the event, he said, and did most of the leg work.
After the accident, Seyler said the event almost fell through the cracks. Church members came up with ideas and scrambled to secure acts to make sure Spirit Day would continue.
Church members who have worked on organizing the event wanted to give back to Childs who has done so much for the church, Seyler said. The 5K race is a good way to support the family, he said. Other happenings at Spirit Day will benefit Childs, he said.
James Childs returned home from a Pittsburgh hospital in early September, Tom Childs said, and the family is looking into inpatient rehabilitation options.
“I think he appreciates the help that he’s been given by the people in the church,” Tom Childs said.
If you go:
Community Spirit Day
Saturday noon – 6 p.m.
Grace Brethren Church Hall
215 Arthur St., West Kittanning
5K run/2.5 mile walk
Registration at 8 a.m.
Event begins at 9
Apple and pumpkin pie contest
Bring entries to the hall by 11:45 a.m.
Other activities include: a free car wash, games, paintball, nail driving contest, food, live music and a coffee house.