(WHTM) -- The 2025 Hershey Walk for Apraxia was held Saturday at St. Peter's Church of Middletown.

The walk is a large community event recognizing children diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech -- a rare motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to speak.

"It really impacts when your child cannot communicate with you and you don't understand what they're saying, and they shut down and they don't want to talk or it they can," Jessica Ayala, local walk coordinator, said. "It can be up to nine or 11 before they say their first words."

"A lot of times when they don't get understood, not only do they shut down, but it can turn into having tantrums and lashing out," she continued. "So it's a lot of patience that you need not only to understand them, but to navigate their feelings."

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