The Walk to End Lupus Now® is a peer-to-peer fundraiser that happens nationwide. The walk is aimed at creating awareness for the disease, all while creating a space for lupus patients to connect with other patients. The Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter has been working endlessly for decades now to create a fun environment for patients and caregivers which celebrates lupians and all of their accomplishments.
We first gathered in Columbus on July 26th at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI). While the walk in Columbus was a tad different than last year, the lupus warriors of Ohio showed up and turned the city purple! We set a fundraising goal of $25,000 and unfortunately we didn’t make that. WE EXCEEDED IT! We have to give a huge shoutout to our top fundraisers Rosie Chapman and Tiffany Thiede. These two powerhouses brought in nearly $15,000 and we couldn’t be more thankful for their efforts and every single walker’s dedication!
Flash forward to September 6th, where we held the Walk to End Lupus Now® in Cleveland at The Flats East Bank. We met in the beautiful weather to walk towards a lupus-free future! We have to give a big shout out to our top fundraisers, Kelly Perhach, Valerie Tenda, and Terri Patterson Kreider! These three trailblazers brought in a combined $12,000! We couldn’t have done it without them. And, thank you to everyone who registered and walked with us! Whether you walked the butterfly stroll or the three-mile walk, your support ensures a positive future for lupus patients.
We want to give a big thank you to everyone who participated this year. From the lupus patients, to the caregivers, to the supportive family members and friends, we thank you for taking action in the fight against lupus. While this has been a year filled with many ups and downs, we all managed to step up and show out! Our walks are not only fundraisers, but a reminder to lupus warriors that you are not in this fight alone. You have a whole army of people behind you fighting the same fight. We thank you for continuing to fight this fight with us.