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For Immediate Release
Date: 5/10/06
For more information, contact:
 Linda S. Magill, Director of Development and Community Relations
Family Resource Associates, Inc. 732-747-5310 or lmagill@frainc.org

Brothers Step out together for Marathon for FRA

SHREWSBURY, NJ--On a recent sunny Sunday morning, on the Long Branch Promenade, 27 year old Michael Feeney stepped up to the starting line for his very first Half-Marathon, and he certainly wasn’t alone. Over 4,000 seasoned marathon runners were on hand that day, all on a mission of one sort or another: Some hoped merely to finish; some came determined to win; some came from out of state just to add NJ to an already long list of states where they have run. Michael Feeney had a different sort of mission altogether. For him, it was all about his hero and younger brother Mark, a sophomore at Red Bank Regional High School.

Mark, who has Down syndrome, received therapies from Family Resource Associates (FRA) as a young toddler in the Early Intervention program. In the years since then, Mark has participated in FRA after-school programs and Teen Nights. Now, Mark wanted to give something back to FRA, to those who have helped him achieve so much. When the marathon idea came up, Mark began soliciting pledges to donate to FRA. His older brother Michael, a financial consultant, is anything but shy about his feelings where Mark is concerned: “I would do anything for my brother. He is the most giving kid and I am so very proud of him. I go to his baseball games every chance I get. Whenever we can, I like to do things with him, like play video games.” The race was yet another activity he could share with Mark. He began collecting pledges from his co-workers at Sagemark Consulting in Little Silver, but he was no match for Mark. “My brother is a relentless, convincing salesman!” Indeed, Mark collected over $700 in pledges from teachers, coaches, friends and neighbors to donate to FRA in Shrewsbury.

In front of a cheering crowd 5-6,000 strong, the brothers took off from the starting line, along with Jodi Fink, Michael’s girlfriend. It didn’t take long for Michael to lose track of his brother. Slowing down, he asked Jodi what happened to Mark. She pointed up ahead, where Mark, sporting his Ipod headphones, was keeping pace with the other runners, while the crowd was cheering. After catching up to Mark, the trio completed the first four miles of the race together. At a pre-designated meeting point, Mark’s father was waiting to chauffer him to a parade with his baseball team. Michael and Jody went the distance, completing the next nine miles together. “Mark always makes me happy”, said Michael. “I guess it’s just how I was raised. There’s just nothing we wouldn’t do for Mark”.

Together, the two brothers raised over $1200 for FRA.

Besides providing in-home therapy to children with disabilities, FRA also offers family support and counseling, a range of activities from dance classes to teen nights, as well as technology classes and workshops in the FRA TechConnection computer lab. The FRA TechConnection is also the only Demo Center in the state where children, as well as adults with special needs can sample software and devices hands-on, before making a purchase. Earlier in May, FRA began working with the TV show Extreme Makeover-Home Edition as the computer technology consultant for a family in Bergenfield, NJ with 4 family members who are blind and 1 family member who is deaf, recommending the special devices, software and follow-up training that will make it possible for all members of the family to enjoy the same computer access so many people take for granted. The Extreme Makeover episode is scheduled to air in June. FRA also donates recycled computers to people with disabilities who are on limited income. For further information call 732-747-5310 or visit the website at www.frainc.org or www.techconnection.org.