Jack Bednarick, 10 years old, who has been battling Perthes Disease (a rare bone disease of the hip) for more than two years just completed the Forest Park “Fly Like an Eagle” 5K in 30 minutes, 11 seconds.

Since January, 2009, Jack has been on crutches and in a wheelchair and spent six weeks in traction over the summer of 2009 and was in a body cast for almost two months in the spring of 2010, following surgery on his hip. He had follow-up surgery in February to remove a plate from his hip and was back on crutches and in a wheelchair for six weeks. Three days after being cleared to walk, he began training for the Forest Park 5K. This training program was coordinated by the Forest Park PTO and used Jackie Emrich from the West Bay YMCA as the trainer.  Twenty-two kids participated in the eight-week program and named themselves Team Flash. 

More information about Jack’s journey with Perthes Disease may be found at http://firecrackerflyers.typepad.com/jackinator/

Way to go Jack!  And great job Team Flash!