The Pace family, a family familiar to OHS, has been working the past few months toward winning the second annual contest for the National Mobility Awareness month of May.

Shannon Pace (11) and Kyle Pace (9) both attend OHS, but little sister Emma, who is 10 years old, is not following in older brother and sister’s footsteps. Emma has cerebral palsy, and her family entered the contest in order to win a handicap van.

Emma’s disability is not the only stress the Paces have undergone, though. Mr. Kyle Pace is a two- time cancer survivor and has had numerous surgeries that have temporarily put him in a wheelchair multiple times. The second time he was diagnosed was right before Emma was born, and it was a frightening time for the family.

Winning the contest, which is hosted by NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association), would help the Paces immensely.

“It would just be a huge relief because of everything with my dad and sister,” said Shannon Pace, “and it would be too expensive for us to buy a van on our own.”

Voting has been held since the end of March on www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com and just recently ended May 10. Three families will be awarded vans based on votes, and the Paces made it to the semi- finals. They are waiting to hear the results and hoping for good news.