Written by: Tiffany Westry
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Noah Galloway
(photo courtesy of Ellie Marks Photography)The first Halloween Family Ghost Run, hosted by the UAB School of Education’s Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center, will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, at 8 a.m. The event will feature Birmingham native and “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Noah Galloway.
The family event will begin with a 2-mile walk/run, which will start in the parking lot of the UAB Bell Building, 1220 University Blvd. The route will proceed through Railroad Park and end at the UAB Campus Green. Afterward, families and participants are invited to enjoy a variety of family activities on The Green or spend time with Galloway during a meet-and-greet.
Sergeant Noah Galloway is a military veteran who lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in an improvised explosive device attack just three months into his second tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. After a long stint in recovery and rehabilitation, Galloway overcame a battle with depression and is now a personal trainer and motivational speaker. Galloway travels the country sharing his story, encouraging and motivating others.
Most recently, Galloway took third place in Season 20 of ABC’s hit series “Dancing With the Stars” following his appearance on the November cover of Men’s Health Magazine, after being named the publication’s 2014 Ultimate Guy.
“We are very excited to have Noah Galloway join us for the first Ghost Run to support the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center,” said Lynn Kirkland, Ed.D., chair of the UAB Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “Noah shares a passion with the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center: giving back to his community. The center is a hub for the community that provides services to families to strengthen their level of health and literacy.”
The Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center was founded in 2014. Housed in the UAB School of Education, the center was established to honor and continue the legacy of internationally renowned literacy expert and longtime UAB faculty member Maryann Manning, Ed.D. Manning passed away in 2013 after 35 years on UAB’s faculty.
Despite a long history of literacy education, literacy continues to need improvement in Alabama. The Literacy Council of West Alabama estimates that one in four Alabamians is functionally illiterate. Functional literacy includes basic skills such as reading, writing, technological capabilities and basic skills in mathematics. The Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center’s definition of literacy encompasses all of those things. Through one-on-one assessment and instruction for children, professional development for teachers, literacy learning clinics, and family programs, the center is working to address literacy and health-related needs for families, research current issues in literacy, and enhance the literacy level of diverse populations.
All proceeds from the Ghost Run will benefit the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center.
Registration is $25 for an individual or family and $15 for UAB students. Participants can also sponsor Noah Galloway as their Ghost Runner.
For more information and to register, visit www.uab.edu/ghostrun.