Source: American Coalition for Fathers and Children (ACFC)
Contacts:
Mike McCormick: (800) 978-3237 acfc.org
Ann Slaw: (817) 913-0455 FDNow.org
Grandmother to Climb Africa’s Tallest Peak
Charlotte, NC – 70 year old grandmother, Sheila Peltzer, will climb Africa’s tallest peak, 19,200′ Mount Kilimanjaro raising awareness for Shared Parenting and Familial Dysautonomia. Peltzer, departing January 21, 2009, will make the ten day trek up the western route where sub zero summit temperatures are expected.
Peltzer’s coach for this grueling climb is former 3-time Super Bowl Champion and motivational speaker, Tim McKyer.
“Many people ask me how a former professional football player and a retired school teacher became involved in this effort,” Peltzer said. “It’s simple. The family courts in this country are broken. Children are being denied an equal relationship with both parents. I’m unable to be a part of my grandchildren’s lives because the courts denied their father enough time for shared parenting.”
“Two of my grandchildren have FD (Familial Dysautonomia), a rare and fatal genetic disease, resulting in recurring intensive care hospitalizations. Because my son has limited access to his own children they are being denied the love of their grandparents, as well as their dad. ”
Tim McKyer adds; “I’m involved with Sheila to help shine a spotlight on the family courts. At one time my children lived with me and were doing well. Now I have limited access to them and they are falling behind in school and having other problems. The courts are handicapping my kids unnecessarily. What my kids are being subjected to at the hands of the court is beyond absurd.”
Dr. Linda Nielsen, a national expert on divorced fathers and daughters, Wake Forest University professor and president of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children (ACFC) notes; “Nationally, over 1 million children each year experience their parents’ divorce. Children who spend only a few days each month with their dads are at increased risk of social, emotional and academic problems. If the courts encouraged and allowed more shared parenting after divorce, millions of children would benefit.”
For Sheila Peltzer it’s simply a matter of wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. “There’s no known cure for my grandkids’ illness. They are not expected to live long lives. On top of this, these two kids have been denied access to half of their family. Can you imagine my son, a respected physician, cares for other peoples’ ill children, yet he is not allowed to care for his own. We moved to Charlotte to be close to our grandkids. But because of what family courts did to our family, we rarely see them.”
Familial Dysautonomia is a rare, fatal, genetic and neurologic disease present at birth. Please visit www.fdnow.org to learn more.
ACFC is a national non-profit organization dedicated to Shared Parenting and family law reform. Their website is www.acfc.org.
