Conquer Chiari Walk seeks sponsors, participants for first local event Sept. 20
Millsboro resident Tracy Fleetwood is planning the first local Conquer Chiari Walk Across America event and welcomes sponsors and participants for the event, scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 20, in George H.P. Smith Park at Blockhouse Pond in Lewes. It will be held in conjunction with other similar events across the country that day.
Chiari is a neurological disorder where the brain descends out of the skull and puts pressure on the spine. It affects about 300,000 people in the U.S., all ages and races. It can cause severe headaches, balance problems, weakness in the arms and legs, and respiratory problems. Very little in federal funds has been directed toward research.
Fleetwood is among those 300,000. “My family and I have done other walks for this cause in Wilmington and Pennsylvania, and decided to host one ourselves this year right here in Lewes. I reside in Millsboro, but since this is the first walk I am organizing, I wanted to do it in the First Town in the First State,” she said.
“Along with so many wonderful other people who suffer from chiari and also those who have children with chiari, I have to help get the word out about this disorder and will hopefully keep doing this until we are all heard,” Fleetwood said.
The public is invited to participate. A minimum donation of $25 is suggested. Participants are asked to preregister online at www.conquerchiari.org. T-shirts will be given to those who preregister by Friday, Aug. 15, and contribute at least $25. For more information, contact Fleetwood at 302-465-7354 or tfleet02@yahoo.com.
Registration on the day of the walk begins at 9 a.m., and the walk starts at 11. Eighty percent of the money raised will go directly to research funding.
Conquer Chiari, known formerly as the C&S Patient Education Foundation, is a 501c3 public charity dedicated to improving the experiences and outcomes of chiari patients through education, awareness and research. For more information, go to www.conquerchiari.org.
