By PJ Parker.

Members of Somerset Family Physical Therapy on World’s Fair Drive walked Oct. 14 in the Central Jersey “Autism Speaks” 5K Walk.

The walk was held on the grounds of the Educational Testing Systems campus in Princeton.

They walked with one of their patients to bring awareness to a charity dear to her heart.

Joan Farrell, a four-year patient of SFPT, fell a year ago and broke several bones in her face and body. Unable to walk, she sought the care at SFTP, led by Dr. Kevin Kurtz, and guided by Megan Gonzalez and Colleen Rossi.

When asked what her goals were in her treatment, Farrell was quick to reply that she wanted not only to walk, but to be able to walk the 5K event for “Autism Speaks,” to honor her 18-year-old grandson who is verbally challenged by autism.

“I couldn’t walk, I was in the hospital for two weeks,” she said. “Dr. Kevin was amazing, but Colleen and Megan, they were my rock.”

“Joan gave it her all,” Gonzalez said. “Good or bad, it didn’t matter what the weather was or anything, she never gave up on her goals.”

“We are super proud of Joan,” Rossi said. “She started on the treadmill for three minutes, and now she’s up to three miles in 51 minutes.”

Asked why SFTP wanted to walk with Joan, Gonzalez said, “SFPT is family, and Joan is family.”

Here are a few more scenes from the day: