A local 12-year-old is reminding people that Cerebral Palsy is not a disease. Reagan Funk was presented with a certificate from city council Tuesday night recognizing October 6 as World Cerebral Palsy Day in Grande Prairie. Funk says she was proud to have this day recognized in her hometown.
“It made me feel great that Canada and Alberta and Grande Prairie are thinking about disabilities.”
Cerebral palsy is a brain injury that happens at birth or shortly after and is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. CP affects children’s muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. There is currently no cure. Funk says it’s important for people to know what CP is.
“I have it and it’s important to me that people are recognizing it. It’s not a disease it’s just a disconnection of the brain.”
Funk’s favourite song is Born This Way by Lady Gaga. Whenever people ask what happened to her she just says she was born this way. World Cerebral Palsy Day in the city will now be recognized every year on October 6.