2022 Run, Walk, or Roll Fundraiser Dramatically Surpasses Goal
What do you do when you beat a previous year’s fundraising goal? Double it! This year’s Run, Walk or Roll doubled its 2022 goal from $25,000 to $50,000 and exceeded expectations with $67,067 raised from sponsorships, registrations, donations, and t-shirt sales.
Equally important, 18 Warrior Teams were involved, up from 10 last year and nearly 600 generous supporters up from approximately 400 in 2021. In addition to U.S teams from across the country, participants joined from Switzerland, Austria, and Brazil in a mix of virtual and in-person events. Nine teams participated in-person with Team Michael (Pennellville, NY) and Team Jaden (Mexico, NY) joining forces for a combined in-person event.
Here are some additional highlights from this year’s event:
Eight teams returned from 2021: Teams Jaden (Mexico, NY), Brant (Watson, LA), Michael (Pennellville, NY), Ana (Grantham, NH), Joshua (Lake Havasu City, AZ), Valentin (Vienna, Austria), Felix (Geneva, Switzerland), and Candia (Brazil).
Team Brayden (Gettysburg, PA) and Team Joshua (Lake Havasu City, AZ) both received media coverage.
Three sets of siblings participated: Julian and Dominic from Team JuDo (Tampa, FL), Garret and Gavin from Team Jones (Chicago IL), and Alex and Igor from Team Candia (Brazil).
Six PMD Foundation board members spearheaded teams for their kids: Teams Jaden, Ana, Brant, Valentin, James (Milton, VT), and Camden (Gilbert, AZ).
Rounding out the 18 Warrior Team roster were Teams Luke (Centerville, MD), Tommy (Massillon, OH), Noah (Chandler, AZ), Travis (Pinebluff, NC), and Zayce (Lafitte, LA).
Every mile for the event honors someone who has been affected by PMD. Here is a little background on this year’s 18 warriors:
Team Jaden. Jaden is a lover of baseball (especially the Yankees), Johnny Cash, swimming, and giving smooches. This is his second year as captain of his team, as he works to raise awareness for PMD and PMLD around the globe.
Team Luke. Luke loves to be around family and friends, tell jokes on his communication device, and make people laugh. Luke loves the 12 Days of Christmas song, rainbows, Daniel Tiger and push pops. His mom, Jennifer, is spearheading a team with Luke "because it is so important to us to find a cure for PMD."
Team Brayden. Brayden loves swimming, riding his special bike, giggling with Elmo, and playing with his family and friends. His Aunt Emily says: "We are creating a team for him because we want to help him have as happy and fulfilling a life as possible, and believe in the work the PMD Foundation is doing to make that happen."
Team Camden. Camden is brave with a mischievous side and lights up a room with his smile and belly laughs. He enjoys the freedom his wheelchair provides and likes to swipe anything within arm’s reach from counters and tables. Jeremy, his dad and PMD Foundation Executive Board member, participates to "give back to the Foundation to continue the research we are funding towards finding a treatment and cure for PMD."
Team JuDo. Julian (Ju) received an official diagnosis around his second birthday at the same time his parents found out they were having another child. At age 3, Julian loves anything with wheels, as well as balls. and his dog, Ziggy. and cat, Noodle. His eight-month old brother Dominic (Do) is small but mighty and demonstrates this with his killer grip strength and crawl sprints to anything he is not supposed to have. He has yet to find food he doesn't like and is never too far behind his big brother.
Team Michael. Michael loves to get into trouble. His smile and his strength to overcome anything that is thrown his way is incredible. His mother Vanessa says, "Awareness is key and what better face to spread awareness than the perfectly angelic Michael! PMD kids fight so hard, and they deserve to be seen, heard, and loved."
Team Candia. Alex loves soccer, and Igor plays guitar. Although the boys live far from the Foundation’s home base in the United States, their family looks forward to receiving the latest information from the Foundation's social media and email.
Money raised by the teams goes to PMD Foundation’s work on education, research, service, and advocacy for those affected by Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease. The annual Run, Walk, or Roll also spotlights Leukodystrophy Month and raises awareness of Leukodystrophy diseases.
So what is to come for the 2023 Run, Walk or Roll? The PMD Foundation plans to have an even bigger event with more warriors, sponsors, participants, countries, and fun.
Thank you to the 2022 sponsors for their generous support.
