Kasey Walks 3 Miles - Arthritis Walk 2010

For the past three years, we've found ourselves pushing Kasey (now 5) and her friend in our double-sized jogger stroller, the "blue bus" as we call it, for about 95% of the Arthritis Walk. This year we proudly watched our little Kasey walk (and sometimes run) the entire three miles.



Motivated by two dogs, she had a leash in hand and a smile on her face as she conquered the three-mile Arthritis Walk.

Our main concern was would walking that distance affect her legs later that day or the next day. However, she hasn't shown any pain or discomfort. For now, we can cherish this moment, but in the world of arthritis, you never know what might spur a "flare up" that sets her back.

Nearly 50 people and six dogs walked with Kasey, and many more people stopped by at our post-walk party.

View Photos from the Walk

Supporters of Team Kasey helped raise about $4,000 for the Arthritis Foundation. This effort helped Team Kasey be the top fund raising team in the state of Wisconsin for the fourth straight year. The money raised is used to support medical research as well as special programs and education.

Let us extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported Kasey, our family and this cause.

Team Kasey Walking for Arthritis

Once again, we're rallying the troops to support the mission of the arthritis foundation, raise money and have fun by walking on May 8th in the 2010 Arthritis Walk.

View the 2009 Pictures

Each year Team Kasey raises thousands of dollars for the Arthritis Foundation which helps support educational and awareness programs and medical research. We greatly appreciate the awesome support from our extended families, close friends, neighbors and colleagues. This is an event that has great meaning to our family.

Kasey has had great success managing this disease over the past 12 months. At this time a year ago, we adjusted Kasey's medication and she had a flare up in her right knee. It swelled up to about twice the size of her other leg and required us to return to the normal medicine routine and place her leg in a night brace. It's a delicate balance keeping the minimal levels of weekly/daily medications and injections in Kasey without jeopardizing her health and her daily activities.

The Walk (1 mile or 3 mile) is on May 8th at 10am at the Sun Prairie Athletic Center (get details here). Please come out and support the team or simply make a donation. BTW, if you have a dog, you can bring it to the walk.

And yes. We're having a post-event walk gathering at the house... bring the kids and let's have some fun).

Heart of the Mission Award

Wow! We've just been awarded the "Heart of the mission" award by the National Arthritis Foundation for our strong efforts towards the Arthritis Walk.

This award is presented to the development volunteer who, through fund raising events, has improved the lives of others through their unfaltering dedication for the mission of the arthritis foundation. We were recognized for our efforts at the Dane County Arthritis Walk last year... coming with a team of 100 people and raising $8,400 as well as our time on planning committees and soliciting corporate sponsors.

We were honored at the 2009 Volunteer Awards Luncheon in Atlanta, GA. It was a pretty nice event where they honored other volunteers. When we learned about winning the award, we didn't really understand how much our efforts meant to the Foundation. However, once we there, we received ongoing praise for our dedication from many leaders of the Arthritis Foundation. It was quite an honor.

Big thanks to all the Wisconsin Chapter folks (Judy Miyagawa and Judy Haugsland) for the nomination.

Check us out... That's us with Cecile Perich, Chair of the Arthritis Foundation's National Board of Directors and John Howard Klippel, M.D., the President and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation.

2009 Arthritis Walk - May 9th

We hope you can join us in our efforts to support Kasey and the Arthritis Foundation.

It's been nearly two and a half years since Kasey was diagnosed with Arthritis. Since then she has had to relearn walking, received over eight different types of medication and has had nearly 200 needle pokes.

The good news... Kasey is pain free, taking fewer medications and living a normal life. She still receives weekly injections to help her manage her disease and requires routine blood draws to monitor the effects of the medicine in her body. The needle poking is never fun, but it's necessary to keep this disease under control.

I get asked many times, "will this eventually go away?"

Unfortunately not. It's just something we as a family have to manage. Right now she's doing great, but there's no guarantee she'll be pain free forever. We're very fortunate.

Last year we had 90 people walk with us and hundreds of supporters help raise nearly $8,500. We certainly appreciate everyones support and feel blessed to be surrounded by such caring and wonderful people.

Record Turnout for Team Kasey at 2008 Arthritis Walk

Your support for Team Kasey helped raise over $8,415 in donations to the Arthritis Foundation--Over a thousand dollars more than in 2007! Hopefully, the combined contributions from our team and many teams across the nation will provide the necessary medical research to help our little girl and hundreds of thousands of those with arthritis be pain free.

When we thought that forty five people who joined us in 2007 was a lot, amazingly, 90 people and four dogs showed up to walk with Kasey. I had to count people in the team photo three times to get an accurate number.

Joining us were Deb and Chris' colleagues from St. Mary's and Omnipress, friends who drove down from the Twin Cities, a great bunch of neighbors, friends from daycare, a ton of relatives up from Janesville and even "Pop Pop" (Deb's father) flew in for the walk and celebration.

The day started with the walk, but festivities continued at our home including: kid jumpers, bocce ball, kick ball, tons a food, a huge fireworks display and we closed it down with live music and a campfire--I am not sure what time it was.

It's amazing to see so many people take time out of their day. We are very fortunate to be surrounded by such caring and fun people. Please enjoy photos from this great day and we hope for your support again next year.