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| Mona Tower, Jeanne White Ginder, Bob Robinson |
This week I was fortunate enough to attend the BDAI Annual
Meeting. At this event we celebrate “the year that was” for BDAI. Our Executive
Director, Bob Robinson, refers to it as our kum ba yah event. We were lucky to
have an inspirational keynote speaker this year, Jeanne White Ginder. Jeanne is
the mother of Ryan White. Ryan was a hemophiliac who died of AIDS in 1990. He
received tainted blood as a result of one of his treatments for hemophilia. He
was not allowed to attend Western Middle School because of his disease. At the
time the general public knew very little about the spread of AIDS and there was fear within the community. He fought the Russiaville, IN School District for the right to
attend school with AIDS and won. The family moved to Cicero, IN and Ryan was
able to attend school there with little incident. Ryan’s battle became very
public. He became the poster child for HIV/AIDS. Jeanne told us the story of
her son and his courageous battle with two debilitating diseases, and the
prejudice that he endured. Through it all Ryan kept a positive attitude and
realized that it was people’s fear that drove them to think that way. One of
the themes I got out of Jeanne’s presentation was that one person really can
make a difference.
BDAI’s
mission is to improve the lives of individuals with bleeding disorders like
hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease. Each one of us can make a difference in
the lives of people with bleeding disorders, and one way to do this would be
participate in our annual Walk. This year is the 6th annual Walk for
Hemophilia. This is my favorite BDAI event of the year. BDAI hosts education,
advocacy, and fundraising events all year long, but this one is by far my
favorite.
Here are the reasons I like this event:
1.
There is a real sense of community at this
event. Many stakeholders in the organization come out to participate, and in
large numbers. Our staff, a majority of our board of directors, our families,
and industry are all in attendance. It is truly a family event!
2.
The best part is that there are many from outside
the community that attend, as well. There are friends and family there who do not
attend any of our other events during the year.
3.
There is a sense of pride. My children like this
event because they can bring their friends who don’t have a bleeding disorder. Those
friends get to meet their friends and counselors from camp.
4.
It involves exercise. I like to exercise. The importance of joint
health through movement and exercise is message that we try to convey to all
those living with a bleeding disorder.
5.
It raises much needed funds for educational programs, assistance programs, advocacy, research, and camp.
6.
The scenery is beautiful. The Walk through Lincoln
Park and Chicago’s beautiful Lake Front on a late summer morning is just
spectacular.
7.
There’s always a medal at the end.
Enough said there.
Please join us!
Saturday, September
12th, 2015
Lincoln Park - South
Fields, North Avenue & Stockton Drive
1746 N. Stockton
Drive, Chicago, IL 60661
What's your favorite part of the Walk?
