Thank you!

On behalf of the Laurus Foundation, Yuriy and Aimee Zmysly, Larry and Debbie Pierog (Aimee’s parents) and our Laurus Foundation partners, we would like to thank everyone who participated in our first annual Race Night at Chicago Indoor Racing.

Friday night was a very special night for the Zmyslys. After the event Aimee said, “We had a great time, and felt very welcomed by everyone. Yuriy is enjoying his trophies, and his hat."

Those of you who were there heard Aimee express her appreciation for ‘just being able to have a night out’. For the families who are helping a loved one cope day-to-day with a disability, even a ‘night out’ can be a tremendous blessing.

As 24/7 caregivers, they truly appreciate the little things in life and the people who help make them possible. Everyone who participated in this event should feel proud of the fact that you helped make a difference in the life of this family.

The foundation is committed to helping even more. Together with our Partners In Progress — Salute, Inc., Dr. John Turner (Turner Chiropractic and Rehab) and NextSteps Foundation — Laurus Foundation has put together a team to provide Yuriy with much needed rehabilitation and physical, nutritional and other advanced therapies.

The proceeds from the Race Night will also help fund the purchase of augmentative communication devises and other assistive technologies to help Yuriy achieve a higher level of independence and a better quality of life.

You can read more about Yuriy and Aimee at their website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/yuriyzmysly

We’ve included some pictures of the stars of the night on the following page. Above is a picture of Yuriy at NextSteps working out on the Locomat. This machine helps Yuriy to walk again, strengthens his heart and lungs, and stimulates his brain (as you may recall from an earlier dispatch, Yuriy suffered an anoxic brain injury during a routine appendectomy on his military base in NC).