This year I plan on participating in ten fundraiser “walk” events around the Seattle area. I am asking friends, family, and members of the Alathia Church community to join me in raising funding and awareness of various health-related issues. There are many events like these during the Spring, Summer, and early Fall months. I have registered teams for each event, and if you are interested in joining, just contact me!
The death of a child is perhaps the most tragic death of all – a life taken before it gets the chance to grow. When I was eight years-old, my six year-old sister died ten days before Christmas. Our family was devastated. We were new to Seattle, having moved from St. Louis just four months prior. Thankfully, the local community reached out to my family to help support us through the unimaginable grief, and unenviable confusion of burying my sister. The TEARS Foundation helps families like mine to navigate the emotional and financial complexities surrounding the death of a child. While these tragedies may continue, we can come together to offer hope to those that feel their hope has died in their arms. Jordan – this is for you!
*Saturday, June 26, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm @ Safeco Field.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
In 2005, a friend of mine spent months in the hospital battling with a digestive system gone awry. After a year he finally got a diagnosis: Ulcerative Colitis. In December 2008, I had a stomach ache. Two-and-a-half years later, my doctors still aren’t quite sure what causes my pain. For a while, I was thought to have Crohn’s Disease. Both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are a grouping of disorders known as Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD – not to be confused with IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome). These digestive disorders are a biological enigma, with causes and treatments that are just as much luck as science. However, IBD affects over 1.4 million Americans – nearly the size of Phoenix, Arizona! This event helps to raise research funds and awareness of this pain in the butt battle!
*Sunday, July 18, 4:00pm – 8:00pm @ Magnuson Park.
Autism Speaks is proud of our signature fundraising event which brings together hundreds of thousands of participants annually across the United States and Canada with a common goal of supporting Autism Speaks. This change strengthen the marketing efforts around the Walk program by more directly branding the walks with our name, effectively eliminating any confusion with other autism walks around the world.
*Saturday, August 14 @ Seattle Center.
I don’t remember much of my grandfather – the last time I saw him I was four. But towards the end, he didn’t remember much of me, either. Alzheimer’s is a burden on the elderly and their caregivers, but by promoting innovation in research and treatments, we can help to make the golden years a time to remember.
Saturday, September 11, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm @ Seattle Center.
Walk to Defeat ALS
The ALS Association is the only non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.*Saturday, October 2
CROP Hunger Walks help children and families worldwide — and right here in the U.S. — to have food for today, while building for a better tomorrow. Each year some two million CROP Hunger Walkers, volunteers, and sponsors put their hearts and soles in motion, raising over $16 million per year to help end hunger and poverty around the world and in their own communities.
*Sunday, October 3 @ Alki Beach.
Steps Against Domestic Violence
This event was started in 2007 after my friend, Isabel’s, older sister, Marisa Peach, was beaten to death by her fiancé. Their brother, Arthur, along with friends of Marisa, started the Steps Against Domestic Violence organization and event. They started by holding fundraisers in Philadelphia (where Marisa lived, and are holding an event in the Seattle area in October. This event is in rememberance of Marisa, and proceeds go to benefit children’s services at New Beginnings.
*Sunday, October 3 @ TBA.
Diabetes affects several members of my father’s side of the family, as well as several longtime family friends. However, it is estimated that there are over five million undiagnosed patients – plus 57 million with “pre-diabetes” symptoms. If not managed, the disease can be disastrous, leading to blindness, kidney failure, amputation, and event death. As one of the top concerns to our nation’s health, we owe it to ourselves and our fellow citizens to help raise awareness, as well as research and treatment funding.
*Saturday, October 9 @ Magnuson Park.
There are many more events like these that take place in the Seattle area. If you are interested in more information, please feel free to contact me.
