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Michael Litwinka Memorial Run/5K

Michael Litwinka was a happy, fun-loving thirteen year old boy, like any other boy his age. “He was an outgoing child and immersed his life with kindness, love, and humor. Michael loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh,” said Norlean Litwinka, Michael’s mother. Michael was all of these things, and more, until that fateful day that he collapsed on the coffee table in his home and took his last breath.

More than 7 million children in the United States are living with moderate to severe asthma. Asthma triggers can be completely different from one person to the next; as an asthma sufferer, it is important to understand triggers, in order for disease management to be implemented. Asthma is the number reason for school absenteeism, accounting for more than 14 million missed school days annually. On average, eleven people die from asthma or asthma-related complications every day in the United States. Additionally, African-Americans have the highest asthma mortality rate, and are three times more likely to die from the disease. Many of these deaths are avoidable with proper treatment.

The Michael Litwinka Memorial Run/5K will be held on Sunday, May 20, in Naugatuck. Registration will begin at noon at Cook’s Café, 203 Church Street. The route covers 3.1 miles throughout the Naugatuck Valley. Cooks Café will host the after party and awards ceremony, immediately following the event. Proceeds from the Michael Litwinka Memorial 5K benefit the American Lung Association in the Northeast, specifically asthma-related research, programs and awareness. Regsitration, as well as a route map, and all event information is available at www.LungNE.org/events.

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Beacon Brook Health Center, Cook’s Café, Fitzpatrick Mariano & Santo, PC, and Patti Mascetti of Naugatuck are sponsoring the 5K event, as well as Waterbury Pulmonary Associates and Ritucci Friedman Orthodontics of Waterbury.

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