Two Decades of Walking for a Great Cause

This June, our community gathered at Flushing Meadows to celebrate a very special milestone—our 20th Anniversary of Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk! WooHoo!

The Walk brings us together to remember and honor our past while working towards a brighter future for those living with bleeding disorder today. So many of us look forward to connecting with the community on this day each year. It’s a day filled with love, strength, unity, fun, and it serves as a reminder that although bleeding disorders are rare, together we are powerful.

So much has changed since my family attended our first Walk in 2012, but I remember it like it was yesterday. My children were little, and I remember not letting my son leave my side, since he has inhibitors, and I was afraid of him running with the other kids and getting hurt. In the fourteen years since, we’ve lost some loved ones, and some beautiful babies have been born. Treatments have also advanced so much since those days. Living with inhibitors today is much different than it was when my son was little. Now in college, both kids try to come back home for Walk day.

While so much has changed since our first Walk, we still walk for the same reasons. Many of our friends from the community who we met at our first Walk are still active in some way, shape or form. It is always such a joy to see, meet, connect and catch up with them year after year. They are my friends, my go to moms who have been by my side supporting me and my family since day one. The feelings of comfort, connection, and hope that carried us through our first Walk are the same I feel today.

For me, this day has never been just about fundraising—it’s about community. Even as my kids have grown, I keep walking and volunteering because I know firsthand how important this community is. We were once new to this country and new to the diagnosis of hemophilia. NYCHC played a major role in helping our family—as I’m sure it has for many of you. I know how important that was to me, and my family, and we Walk so that we can provide this sense of comfort, connection, and support to other families who are just starting their bleeding disorder journey.

This year, we are so proud to see our chapter not only reach but surpass our fundraising goal, raising nearly $215,000! Yay! Even more exciting was seeing so many new families and teams join us for the first time. These funds will have a lasting impact in developing programs, continuing our much-needed advocacy efforts, and the critical research our chapters takes part and pride in.

None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of our community. We are deeply grateful to:

• The 46 teams and their Team Captains who shared their stories, raised awareness, and rallied support.
• The 47 Factor Club medalists who each raised $500 or more on their personal fundraising pages.
• The 1,106 donors whose generosity made every dollar count.
• Shari Bender for her effort as this year’s Volunteer Walk Chair. Shari was there for the first Walk and was determined to make sure that this year’s milestone honored our past while propelling us into the future.
• The 25+ volunteers who gave their time to set up, clean up, and keep the day running smoothly.
• My fellow Walk Committee Members—Francesca Gambino Baquero, Regina Buccellato, Ryan Camberdella Jr., Erin Cirelli, Teresa Coutsouradis, Jackie Heney, Jeri Krassner, Kim Spalter, and Hope Woodcock-Ross—who spent months planning to make this day unforgettable.
• Our dedicated NYCHC staff—Jeremy Griffin, Brandon Greene, and Nelly Miranda—whose tireless efforts made everything possible.
• Our generous sponsors and corporate supporters, whose investment in this community will make a difference for years to come.

It truly takes a village to make the Walk a success. Thank you for being part of ours—and for helping us celebrate 20 years of walking together with strength, hope, and unity.