Cannon Design Blog

In 2006, Josh Thompson, an avid surfer and father of two, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Josh and his family turned their personal pain into proactive community-mobilization; the Thompson family organized an annual fundraiser at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, dedicated to curing the disease that Josh fights every day. Their fundraiser has broken ALS fundraising-records, raising over 3 million dollars in their first two years.

This year, building on their previous success and overwhelming community support, the family designed a beachfront playground that is 100% handicap accessible – the first of its kind in America. The idea came to Josh’s Dad, Bruce Thompson, when the family wanted to go to the beach, but Josh has to stay behind because of the difficulty of safely getting a wheelchair across the sand and to the water’s edge.

Bruce Thompson approached the City of Virginia Beach with his idea for a beach park and playground for every’BODY.’ Land, design services and construction fees were donated to create the park, including signage design by Chris Hayes, vice president of environmental graphic design at Cannon Design. The park’s grand opening took place May 22, 2010.

Ashley Marsh - 12 Jul 2010

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