About the Annual Leigh Nolan Memorial UPARC Event

In some ways, Leigh Nolan was like other young women her age. She liked reading and soap operas and country music. She had a job. She loved her family. But in other ways, Leigh’s life was different, and it had been from the very start.

She was born in 1971 with serious birth defects that left her spine open and prevented fluids from draining from her brain. During the first few days of her life, doctors didn’t know whether she would live or die.

“That first week everyone was focused simply on saving her life,” said Charlie Nolan, Leigh’s father and now a retired U.S. military officer. “Sometimes during that week Judy and I would ask what her life would be like if she survived, and no one could really give us much of an answer.

“We didn’t know if she would live, and if she did live, we didn’t know if she would have a life that would be worth living.”

Some people born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus do not survive. Those who do can suffer from full paralysis, mental retardation and a host of other problems.

Leigh survived and grew. She was luckier than some and unluckier than others. She was paralyzed from the waist down, but she could get around in a wheelchair. She was challenged by some learning disabilities, but she was not retarded.

Charlie and Judy Nolan’s question about the quality of their daughter’s existence was answered fairly early in Leigh’s life.

“Leigh turned out to be a happy and a courageous young lady,” her father said. “She always had a smile on her face. She lived each day to the fullest and she had a very happy life.”

It was UPARC, the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens, that helped Leigh Nolan realize her dream of getting a job and working toward independence. UPARC put Leigh in touch with a marketing company in Clearwater. They hired her, and she had just successfully completed her six-month probationary period and had just become a permanent employee when tragedy struck. A shunt that had been installed to drain fluid from around her brain malfunctioned unexpectedly. That led to complications that claimed her life after 23 days in intensive care. Leigh died January 18, 1999 at the age of 27.

“We held her hand until we lost her.” Charlie said. “It was the worst night of our lives.”

“Leigh’s one goal in life was to get a job and be independent.” Charlie said. Leigh’s job at the marketing company involved assembling gift packages and getting them ready for shipment. She was proud of her accomplishments, and her employer valued her as an employee. “I think what she ultimately wanted was to be just like everyone else,” said Charlie Nolan. “We believe she achieved her goal.”

About a year after Leigh’s death, Charlie had an idea. Maybe fellow motorcyclists would be interested in organizing a poker run to benefit UPARC. The idea took off in a major way and has been expanded to culminate in a major day-long event held on the first Sunday in November each year. Event day attracts several thousand attendees. 100% of the corporate and private donations that are raised are given to the UPARC Foundation in order to help assure the continuation of the good work and hope that the organization provides to so many in the Pinellas County community.

It is to the memory of Leigh Nolan that this event is dedicated.

Copyright © 2007 Leigh Nolan Memorial UPARC Event Committee. All rights reserved.
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