Yvette Tetreault running for The Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center 2012

My name is Yvette Tetreault and I am supporting the Michael Lisnow Respite Center through my run in the 2012 Boston Marathon. The center provides an important service to persons with disabilities as well as their families throughout the Greater Boston Area.

The center provides a multitude of programs from weekend camps, to after-school programs, to adult day programs and employment support for persons with disabilities.

Seven years ago, I met my husband and his family. His sister has down syndrome complicated with autism. I have seen firsthand, the difficulty that parents face once their child graduates from school and is no longer eligible for a lot of the state sponsored respite services.

For my husband's family in Northern Maine, it is a constant battle to find services for their daughter. The Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center provides an outlet for this type of situation. The center organizes many different seasonal activities for its members to engage in and provides an outlet for everyone involved.

I hope that by helping to fundraise and raise awareness for the center, they will be able to expand their efforts and that others will follow suit in other areas. Family support is one of many items that have suffered large state budget cuts recently. Therefore, there has never been a greater need for these charitable services than now.

The money that I raise contributes 100% to scholarships supporting families who are unable to cover the costs associated with assisted care.