RUN FOR NINA: 5k event to benefit woman with cerebral palsy

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

(Courtesy photo) Enedina “Nina” Villegas of San Benito is the namesake of Nina’s 5k Run, an event that Johnny Villegas, Nina’s brother, is holding on Saturday to help raise money for his sister’s special transportation needs.

(Courtesy photo)
Enedina “Nina” Villegas of San Benito is the namesake of Nina’s 5k Run, an event that Johnny Villegas, Nina’s brother, is holding on Saturday to help raise money for his sister’s special transportation needs.

Children’s book author Marc Brown once said, “Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.”

Johnny Villegas, 32, of San Benito can attest to as much. Consider that Johnny has recently become his sister’s hero after he organized an event, Nina’s 5k Run, in her name.

The event – scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito – was named after Enedina “Nina” Villegas, 34, who has cerebral palsy. Because Nina’s often confined to a wheelchair, she requires special needs accommodations when leaving home. It’s a situation Nina’s brother, Johnny, sought to resolve by holding a 5k benefit run in hopes of raising enough money to afford a vehicle that meets his sister’s needs.

“We basically need a used caravan to transport her around the Valley to social and family events, because normally we can’t go to too many events,” Johnny said. “So, all my friends from the running community inspired me to do the run to help raise money (for a vehicle to serve as Nina’s transportation).”

The response thus far has been nothing short of heartwarming; Johnny said more than $3,000 in donations have poured in from the community, including $400 courtesy of Action 4 News’ Pay it 4Ward.

Also, Johnny said he’s had a large amount of early registrations from runners wishing to participate, not to mention individuals who’ve offered various forms of assistance.

“I already got two phone calls from used car dealerships who want to take me to auctions to purchase a van, and they’ll just charge me at-cost,” Johnny said. “We’ve received a lot of support.”

The support couldn’t come at a better time for Nina, who Johnny said hopes to experience much in life.

“Anyone who meets Nina will fall in love with her contagious smile and feel the overwhelming need to help provide a better quality of life,” Johnny wrote on the Nina’s 5k Run Facebook page. “It is Nina’s and our dream to further expose her to society and our beautiful environment.”

Onsite registration for the event will be held from 5:30 p.m. until the start of the run. Cost of registration is $20 for the 5k and $10 for the 1-Mile Kids Run. There will be prizes for top three male and female competitors. Participants can also register online at Mve.webconnex.com/ninasrun or in person at Footworks in Harlingen.

According to Johnny, Nina’s 5k Run may become an annual event in an effort to raise money for others in need. “We plan on making this a yearly event,” Johnny added. “This first run is for her (Nina) specifically, but next year we’re going to make a candidate list to identify other people’s needs.”

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/07/18/run-for-nina-5k-event-to-benefit-woman-with-cerebral-palsy/

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