Join Luca's Crew: Making a Difference with #TeamPwC in STEPtember for Cerebral Palsy!

Ever met Luca? Not the sea monster from Portorosso – but our son Luca. An incredible human who's already been through a lot and keeps inspiring us with his resilience. Born at just 3.5lbs and 10 weeks premature, Luca's fight started early.

He quickly ditched the ventilator, doing well in his first week of life. But then an unexpected infection triggered a series of events that changed Luca’s life. Septic and battling bacterial meningitis, Luca’s body fought back and cleared the infection. That’s when Hydrocephalus entered the picture. Still 6 weeks premature, Luca underwent brain surgery to implant a shunt, helping manage the excess cerebral spinal fluid around his brain.??

Luca’s medical “problem” list might rival your Netflix watchlist, so I’m only sharing the highlights. After 70 days of growing and tackling routine preemie challenges, Elisa and I brought Luca home from the NICU.??

Around his first birthday, Luca was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, which means his brain and legs don’t always talk to each other, making it hard for him to control his legs. But that hasn’t stopped Luca. He trains like a determined athlete, working through multiple therapies each week and making us all smile along the way. He loves his rocket ships (orthotics) that help him walk so he can explore the world with his walker.???

While Luca’s attitude and determination have brought him this far, it’s been a team effort. With invaluable resources like a dedicated care team, an early diagnosis, and a lot of luck, we’re also fortunate to have flexibility and support at work. Thanks to PwC’s parental leave benefit and caring culture, I was able to show up for Luca and Elisa. From the challenging days in the NICU to the countless appointments, therapies, and the maze of insurance complexities – not to mention the formula shortage – we’re so thankful to have stood beside Luca every step of the way.??

Now we need your help. 1 in 300 newborns will battle Cerebral Palsy (CP) every year, a staggering reality eclipsed by inadequate funding. Let's change that narrative. Access to better care should be a right, not a privilege.?

Join us as we proudly represent in STEPtember! PwC is standing alongside organizations worldwide, supporting the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. We're walking a 10,000 steps-a-day challenge to raise funds and awareness for CP research. Don't worry, other activities count too – the goal is to stay active and move!?

Luca means “bringer of light,” fitting his beaming personality. We thought about how we might share his story, or if we wanted to share it. While Luca continues to write his own story, we’re here to amplify his voice – one step at a time. We're stepping not just for Luca, but for everyone living with cerebral palsy.??

The choice to make a gift to STEPtember is yours. Your gift isn’t just about research or addressing a statistic; it’s changing lives, one step at a time. Help build a future where each step embodies hope and innovation. Step with us. Step for Luca. Step for change. ?????

Get active and help us exceed our $20,000 team goal to move CP research and disability innovation forward: bit.ly/JoinLucasCrew

When registering, make these selections to wave the registration fee:??

• Are you STEPping with your organization? *, choose, Yes?

On the next page:??

• Choose, Yes, I want to join an organization or school?
• Search for your organization or school, enter PwC, and choose, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)?
• Which department are you participating in?* Choose, Other, if you aren’t employed by PwC.??