DEL MAR TIMES

​On Saturday, Feb. 4, Carlsbad, and the surrounding San Diego County communities will come together to celebrate the 14th annual Mitchell Thorp Foundation Warrior Spirit 5K Run/Walk and Family Festival at Poinsettia Park, Carlsbad. The event will be supporting families whose children are suffering from life-threatening illnesses, diseases, and disorders. For 13 years, the community has encouraged and supported local critically ill children and their families by showing them they are not alone with bringing hope and a warrior spirit.

As a participant you will have the chance to see a skydiving demonstration, live bands, a fun DJ, warmup with a fitness team, join a dance contest, browse vendors, experience healing mini ponies, play games, win prizes, experience inflatable jumps, and more activities for the entire family. Prizes will be awarded to the individual and team that raises the most amount of money for critically ill children.

A tragic loss set a family on a path to help others.
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San Diego Magazine - Sarah Sapeda
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Fourteen years ago, Beth and Brad Thorp’s lives were forever changed. They lost their 18-year-old son, Mitchell, after a five-year battle with an undiagnosed illness. Mitchell had been athletic—a baseball player coached by his former pro pitcher dad—at the top of his class, and a compassionate, kind-hearted kid who stood up for others in need. But over the course of his illness, his health deteriorated to the point he could no longer walk, suffered myoclonic seizures, and was in constant pain.
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“Mitchell was a bright light. He just lit up the room. He was just so full of joy,” says Beth. “The Lord gave me him for 18 years—to learn from and love and grow from—and then ultimately I had to give him back.”

Carlsbad and the surrounding San Diego County communities will come together to celebrate the 11th annual Mitchell Thorp Foundation (MTF) 5K Run/Walk and Family Festival on Saturday, Feb.1, at Poinsettia Park in Carlsbad. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Mitchell Thorp Foundation supports families during a time of crisis

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the Mitchell Thorp Foundation was recently honored with the 10News Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to improving lives in San Diego. Channel 10News anchor Steve Atkinson presented the award to co-founders Beth and Brad Thorp at the home of Blake and Shelly Matthews, whose three-year-old daughter, Charlie, was diagnosed with brain cancer last October, just six days after the birth of their second child. The Mitchell Thorp Foundation came to the Matthews family’s aid, helping them with medical costs as Charlie underwent chemotherapy and stem cell transplant procedures. Shelly had to leave her job to stay by her daughter’s side during medical treatments. “Having the assistance from the foundation helped keep our heads above water when we were drowning in medical bills and debt,” says Shelly.