1st Annual Scleroderma Park Golf Tournament

This weekend we attended the 1st annual Scleroderma Park Golf Tournament! It was a blast! I wish I took more pictures at the event, but I was having so much fun I forgot! Park Golf is the Japanese style of golfing. The sport is a mix of traditional golf and croquet. There are still 18 hole, but the distance is much shorter and just as the name implies, the sport is meant to be "park-like", relaxing and fun.

The tournament was played at the first and only Park Golf course in the United States called Destroyer Park Golf. My Dad learned about this course last year and has been playing at it several times each month this summer. He just loves it and thought it would be a great idea to try as a fundraiser. I am so proud of my Mom because she set this event up all on her own. The owners of the course are fantastic and were so helpful too!

Each persons $20 ticket included their round of golf, equipment - club & ball, light lunch and three chances to win 3 door prizes! I can't wait to hear back from Tri-State Scleroderma to see how much money was raised! We had about 40 participants this first year which is awesome! Hopefully next year we will sell out the tournament!

Everyone had a great time and my Mom received excellent feedback too. A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in this first event and for those that couldn't make it, but donated. We are so appreciative of your support!

Scleroderma Patient Forum 2014

On Saturday, August 9th, I had the privilege to attend the 2014 Scleroderma Patient Forum. This forum included updates from the Tri-State and Ontario Foundation chapters and two guest lecturers - Dr. Pope and Dr. Shapiro. It was a fantastic morning at the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Both doctors were incredible and fun to listen to. Sometimes when I have attended these functions in the past, the doctors are very smart, but hard to translate their message to patients and their families. Both of these doctors were excellent at relating technical information for the patients. 

Seminars like this one is supported by the local Scleroderma chapters. Most of the money that is raised during the year is spent on research, but some is ear-marked for patient advocacy programs like this one. Having the Tri-State Scleroderma chapter connected with our area is such a blessing in order to spread knowledge and awareness of this disease. 

Annual Scleroderma Walk!

The annual Scleroderma walk was also held in June this year (busy summer, right?). This year's walk was held in the Eastern Hills Mall in the Food Court area. 

Every year we are blessed by having so many friend and family come support my mom and raise funds for Scleroderma. And of course - there were tons of basket raffle prizes! And our team Kathy's Krew won many of them again!

This year, my mom wrote AM Buffalo (Channel 7 in the Buffalo area) to see if they would promote the walk and Scleroderma awareness and...she was asked to go on television! She did such a wonderful job promoting awareness and the walk. You would not even know she was nervous! Great job Momma!

As of the morning of the walk, our Buffalo chapter had raised over $14,000! 

Thanks to everyone who came out to support this wonderful foundation!

 

The End of National Scleroderma Month

Who is wearing teal today???? I am!!! In honor of National Scleroderma Month! Our local fundraiser for Scleroderma research and programs brought in over $11,000 and over 140 walkers came out this year. It was a great time and I am looking forward to next year's fundraiser - June 21, 2014 - so mark your calendars!

2013 Buffalo Scleroderma Walk

Saturday brought on the 2013 Buffalo Scleroderma Walk and Fundraiser. It ended up being a beautiful and sunny day! About 140 walkers game out and we all raised over $11,000 for Scleroderma research! What a success! And...Kathy's Krew took home the cup again! We had 35 walkers and raised over $1,500.

And of course our favorite part...the basket raffle! I think almost every group went home with a basket. Christopher and I took home three - a pink purse, glass & metal candle holder, and watch & clutch. Our friends Steve & Lauren took home two - a garden hose and a champagne basket. There were over 115 baskets raffled off!

Our group had a ton of fun and we are looking forward to the walk next year. Save the date: Saturday, June 21st!