Our inaugural Los Angeles Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD made the local TV news in Torrance, CA, this week! The event was organized by the Los Angeles chapter of the FSHD Society. Bravo to Walk leader Selina Lai for her energetic networking and advocacy to raise awareness of FSH muscular dystrophy with the broader public. The Walk & Roll took place on October 27 at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance.
More than 100 people from the greater Los Angeles FSHD Community gathered dressed in turquoise Walk & Roll teeshirts to celebrate their community’s resilience and determination to make a difference. The event opened with a performance of the national anthem and speeches by FSHD Society CEO Mark Stone and Chief Community Development Officer Beth Johnston. Following the walk along a paved, accessible path, the group enjoyed a picnic and friendships forged over the years. “Events like these keep the excitement going and make us so hopeful about the future and a cure,” said one participant, Colette Wheeler.
Selina Lai said she organized the Walk & Roll not just for her community but also for her husband, who has been diagnosed with FSHD along with other members of his family. She spoke movingly about his anguish over losing the ability to participate in activities and becoming dependent on others for simple tasks.
James Rice, who is participating in upcoming treatment trials, had a message for the community: “Stay strong, we’re in this together. There will be a cure by 2025. We’ve got this!”
Indeed. This first-ever Los Angeles Walk & Roll to Cure FSHD has not only landed on the TV news, but it has also raised nearly $35,000, and donations are still being accepted. Altogether, volunteer-led fundraising events raised more than $600,000 this year for the FSHD Society. We thank all of our hard-working volunteers and supporters!
If you feel inspired to organize a Walk & Roll next year, you can learn more about it here.
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