Maximus Xavier Nady was born on August 11, 2008. Just over a month later, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Now almost 3-years-old, Max is at the age when other children run and jump without a second thought. He, however, must use a walker or inch along the floor.

“His biggest issue is confidence [in his mobility],” says his father, Scott Nady, head football coach at Parish Episcopal School. “It’s tough.”

He says Max’s knees are scraped and bleeding because he thinks he moves faster crawling or dragging himself along the ground than he does trying to walk. Despite the obstacles he faces every day, the Nady family is doing its best to beat cerebral pals. To help out, their friends created Mile4Max, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about cerebral palsy and offsetting the Nadys’ rising medical costs, including that of experimental treatments not covered by insurance.

In April, the group hosted a 1-mile walk/run and more than 500 people participated, helping to raise enough money to cover eighth months of treatments for Max. The event exceeded expectations, so the group has planned another walk/run for April 28, 2012.

One out of every 1,000 babies develop cerebral palsy, caused by a brain injury. The condition involves nervous system functions including movement, learning, auditory and visual sensations. For Max, it affects the mobility in his legs, mostly issues with balance and propelling himself. He does not need feeding tubes or a respirator and does not have allergies. Other than cerebral palsy, Max is a very healthy boy.

Despite his condition, Max is always upbeat, giving the Nady family hope. Coach Nady is a self-proclaimed optimist.

“If there’s one drop in the glass, I’d say it’s overflowing,” he says.

Coach Nady’s immediate goal is for Max to walk with two canes, instead of a walker, upon return from Canada, but for the future, he hopes that Max will have as functional a body as possible. He has the same goals for Max as he does for the players on his football team: to have confidence, but above all to live a happy life. Nady believes Max was born to the perfect family to battle an illness.

“We’re going to fight CP with every fiber of our being.”

To learn more about Mile4Max or to get involved, visit the organization’s website.