Ainsley’s Angels celebrates 10th Annual Sunset 5K

Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - Ainsley’s Angels will be celebrating its 10th Annual Sunset 5k this weekend at the Lake Charles Civic Center to help children and adults with disabilities.

Ainsley’s Angels was named after Lake Charles native Ainsley Rossiter. Born in the middle of three children in 2003, Ainsley, was diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD) just before turning four years of age. INAD is an extremely rare terminal illness that has slowly caused global paralysis.

In 2008 she went for her first jog during a local road race and loved it so much that the family realized how therapeutic it could be. While Ainsley would later pass in 2016, Ainsley’s Angels provide those with disabilities and the angels that push them with the experience of running in a 5K.

They keep the mission of “together we shall” to show that together you can do anything. Ainsley’s Angels started in Lake Charles, and now the non-profit has over 70 locations in more than 30 states.

This meaning thousands of people with disabilities have been able to roll across the finish line because of her.

Ainsley’s father, Kim, “Rooster” Rossiter and his sister Kristine Seaward started up the nonprofit and continue to work to not only carry on Ainsley’s legacy but to also provide inspiration.

“Without the support of this community we would not be where we are. This city has rallied around us so many times from the beginning” said Seaward.

“The whole idea is to set the conditions for people to know that you don’t have to just walk around your neighborhood” said Rossiter “You can also walk around your community”.

Rossiter says that their motto is “Together we shall, ” and said that his favorite part of witnessing how the organization has grown is the people.

“It’s been cool to see how people as individuals can accomplish so much when you come together. So when you have someone who might use a wheel chair to navigate get paired with someone who uses their legs every single day to see that power, the energy is contagious”.

The goal is to let anyone come run and have fun whether they have disabilities or not and the organization even provides the seats for those who are “riders”.

Then the “runners” push them while they run the 5K to share the experience and show them anything is possible.

“Every finisher that completes the event will receive a beautiful medal” said Seaward.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 8.

You can register until the race sells out.

Registration is $30 and can be done online HERE.

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