Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022 to host fundraiser for Brunswick inclusive playground project

BRUNSWICK — Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2022 Krista Allison will host a fundraiser at the Brunswick Rec Center on Sunday to raise funds for the inclusive playground project. The fundraiser will have a fashion show featuring local boutiques like Pete and Polly in Brunswick and Buckeye Leaf Boutique in Medina. The event will also have food, face-painting, a DJ and raffle baskets. All of the proceeds will be donated to the inclusive playground project. The Ms. Wheelchair pageant focuses on education and advocacy for people with disabilities. Allison's platform for her reign is community accessibility and she has met with local government officials, such as Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi, to achieve her mission. This is her first event since she was crowned in March. The inclusive playground will replace the current playground at Neura Park and will be designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. Allison said the playground is a great way for children with disabilities to feel included when playing with their nondisabled peers. "You don't want to be sitting on the sidelines watching your friends have fun and you're left alone," she said. "Having the inclusive playground will be able to allow these children not to have to sit on the sidelines anymore and be able to have fun and go on equipment that was designed specifically for them." Brunswick City Manager Carl DeForest said $311,900 has been raised so far for the project, which is still shy of its $400,000 goal. If more than $400,000 is raised, that money will go to adding additional features to the playground such as an extra swing or picnic area, DeForest said. "So it's basically like a menu to pick off of, if we get more than $400,000 toward the playground," he said. Tickets are sold out for the event but donations can be made to go toward Allison's fundraiser by calling (440) 759-6099. To donate directly to the project, visit bit.ly/3Ki19NB. "It's going to be a lot of fun but more importantly it's enough (to) at least give a little bit more toward the ultimate goal of the inclusive playground," Allison said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.