Des Plaines man runs to help those with disabilities

Of the approximate 40,000 runners expected to line up Sunday at the 39th annual Chicago Marathon, few will be more prepared than a Des Plaines man, who challenged himself to run an average of 30 miles a day since the end of August.

Tim Wambach heads into the marathon at the end of a 42-day and nearly 1,200-mile trek he set out on to raise money for a charity he co-founded, Keep On Keeping On. Its mission is to assist those living with cerebral palsy and other severe disabilities.

He fully expects to raise $100,000 by the time he reaches MB Financial Park in Rosemont, for a pre-marathon celebration slated to start at 2 p.m. Saturday.

When I caught up with Wambach by phone last week, he was in Indianapolis after starting Aug. 29 in Orlando. This is the second time he has embarked on such a long run, though the last time was in 2005. Each time he has raised money for the disabled.

“This time it's harder than I thought,” Wambach said. “I've developed some injuries and actually had to take a couple of days off, but I think I've grown much more with the adversity.

“I've developed mental fortitude,” he adds, “and I think it will make me a better leader, a better husband and a better friend.”

It's hard to believe anyone could be a better friend. His passion for the disabled goes back 15 years, to 2001 when he served as a one-to-one aide for then 12-year-old Mike Berkson at his middle school in Glenview. At the time, Wambach was 27.

What began as a work assignment grew into a lifelong friendship — and partnership. After Wambach's first run in 2005, the two created the nonprofit organization in 2007, and over the last nine years they have made grants to more than 80 individuals.

They have purchased medical equipment, including hospital beds and wheelchairs, while also covering the cost of different therapies and other outstanding medical bills. They even had an elevator installed in a person's home.

The two also collaborated on a book, “How We Roll,” and in 2010 launched a show, “Handicap This.” Their appearances run the gamut, from one in August at Zanie's in Schaumburg to their next show at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Prospect High School.

In the show, the friends recount their unique relationship and talk about inclusion and tolerance, while promoting abilities of people with disabilities.

Berkson's cerebral palsy keeps him from having any voluntary movements of his arms and legs and, consequently, he is confined to a wheelchair. However, he is bright and articulate, and describes himself as an auditory learner.

He describes the improv portion of their show as his favorite, along with the question and answer segment with the audience.

“We tailor our show to the audience,” Berkson said in a phone interview on Thursday. “We perform for adults and kids, but it's the kids who have the good questions. They don't hesitate to ask.”

He adds that the two try to overcome preconceived notions of what it means to have disabilities and to get people talking and thinking about the possibilities.

When asked about the commitment Wambach has made, including his latest run, Berkson becomes somewhat emotional.

“It means a lot,” he says, “because it's not only what he does for me, but it's what he does for other people with disabilities. It's really inspiring to me that he wants to do this.”

More about their story and ways to support their organization is at http://teamkoko.org/.