2024 RECAP

The Walk to End Lupus Now® is a nationwide collection of events that aim to create awareness and raise money for research to find the cause and cure of lupus. For over 25 years, the Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter has worked tirelessly to build each walk into a fun-filled community gathering that celebrates lupus patients and their friends and family.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire Ohio lupus community for participating in the 2024 Walk to End Lupus Now®! This year we all joined together at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus on August 17th and on the east bank of The Flats in Cleveland on September 14th to walk in unison toward a lupus-free future.

Both days showcased the strength, tenacity, and camaraderie shared by all lupians and their loved ones. In the simplest of terms, the walks are a peerto-peer fundraiser. But they also serve as a reminder that no one is, nor should be, alone on their lupus journey. With almost 1,000 individual donations, 500 participants, and over $60,000 raised, our Ohio lupus community proved that there truly is no “i” in lupus.

The monies raised at our Walk to End Lupus Now® events are the bedrock of our organization. They fund educational programming, vital research to find a cause and a cure for lupus, advocacy, medical literature, support programs, and more. Each dollar raised helps us to continue the fight to end lupus, not only here in Ohio, but across the country. We cannot thank our participants and donors enough. You may not realize the impact you have, but it is massive!

A huge congratulations to this year’s top fundraisers Rosie Chapman (Columbus) and Tanya Quinones - Santiago (Cleveland)! These two powerhouses raised a combined $10,000 and will have the privilege of rep - resenting our chapter in Washington DC at the 2025 Lupus National Advocacy Summit! Great job ladies!

Thank you to everyone who registered, formed a team, donated, shared, posted, shouted or otherwise helped spread the word about this year’s walks! It truly does take a village and we are fortunate to have such strong support throughout the state. Thanks to all of our

- Flower Entertainment: Balloon Clown and Face Painter

- Ellory Smith - DJ

- Steve Campbell - Caricature Artist

- All The Hoopla

- Giant Eagle

- MetroHealth

- Hoop To The Rhythm volunteers who helped on the day of each walk and those who came into the office to help with the copious amounts of preparation and planning involved.

- Terri Krieder

- Stephen Perhach

- Lisa Bordner

- Kelly Perhach (Just a Little Lupie)

- Tiffany Thiede (Team: Thiede & Fergi Butterflies)

- Marybell Moyet (Flare Fighters)

- Leslie Tierney (Lupus Angels)

- Shawntee Johnson (Purple Joy)

- Latasha Adams ( Cheftash YOU GOT THIS!!)

- Hannah Powell (Team: Walk With Hannah)

- Nicole Corley (NicNac Wolf Pack)

- Laura Biernacki (Knockout Lupus)

- Shelby Seibert (Team Shelbs)

- Ariel Shelton

- Tayna Quinones-Santiago

- Rosie Chapman

Do you have suggestions for next year’s Walk to End Lupus Now®!? Keep an eye out for the opportunity to share your ideas. If you’d like to help with next year’s walk, reach out today to join the 2025 Walk Committee!

Contact our Digital Assets and Office Manager, Alex Acevedo. Alex@lupusgreaterohio.org (440) 717-0183 Congratulations to Our Top Fundraisers!