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NKF Footprints In The Sand Beach Walk Huge Success

By  //  May 28, 2012

PHILANTHROPY

(Images from NKF of Florida)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – The National Kidney Foundation of Florida has rasied more than $42,000 from its first official Footprints In The Sand Kidney Beach Walk in Cocoa Beach – which was held at sunrise on May 12th, starting out from the Cocoa Beach Pier.

More than $42,000 has been raised by people who took part in the Footpints In The Sand Kidney Beach Walk held at Cocoa Beach on May 12, 2012

The event began with surfers taking part in a “Circles of Life” paddle-out, honoring all who those who’ve saved a life through organ donation.

This year took on a special meaning when Wilson Shymanksi was honored. Wilson is Rich Salick’s younger brother and gave Rich his kidney and the  “Gift of Life.“

Organ Donation

Congressman Bill Posey joined in the celebration of life as he addressed the crowd about the need for organ donation and events such as The NKF Footprints in the Sand Kidney Walk to raise funds and  awareness to continue the Circle of Life.  He didn’t have to look  far to see a perfect more example than the Salick family.

The 5k Footprints In The Sand beach walk was completed footprint by footprint along the beautiful sands of Cocoa Beach, starting from Cocoa Beach Pier. (images from NKF of Florida)

The YMCA got they crowd going with a Rumba class on the beach and then more than 400 walkers started the 5K walk of awareness – one footprint at a time, which is where this event gets its name from.

Sand Castle Contest

As more than 50 walk teams arrived back at the Cocoa Beach Pier finish line it was time to start the NKF “Sand Castles of Hope” contest.  Big kids., little kids, fathers and mothers shovelled sand and built sand castles to wrap up a morning of giving, sharing, and saving lives.

 

Children took part in a sand castle contest

The NKF has sent its thanks to local sponsors, Walgreen’s, Health First, the YMCA, Lions Club, Fresenius Medical Care, Ash Dermatology, TransLife, Allendar and Allender, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Christian Surfers, Surf Riders, Space Coast Seafood Festival and, of course, Cocoa Beach Pier.

Thanks To Everyone

The NKF thanks everyone who took part.

This event shows the power of the people. In a short 4 weeks the people of Cocoa Beach raised nearly $42,232.21 – of which 83% goes directly to patient care, public education, patient advocacy and professional education programs.

“We Walked the Walk. We Made our Mark. We Saved Lives.”  These are the catch phrases of  all those who took part in the Footprints In The Sand Kidney Beach Walk in Cocoa Beach.

Thank you to Bill Hahn for all his hard work in organizing this event!  Thank You to Mike Lowe of Lite Rock 99.3.

Congressman Bill Posey launched the event

Thank You to Congressman Bill Posey. Thank You to Ybeth Bruzual of Channel 13.  Special Thanks to All the Wonderful Volunteers!  We Could Not Have DoneThis Without You !!

There were 58 Teams and 385 participants that helped make the first Cocoa Beach Kidney Walk a huge success! Congratulations on all their hard work!

Top Fundraisers

Top fundraisers: Jennifer Wolverton – $2,740; Julie Taylor – $1,575; Kelly Cotner – $1,115; Kerry’s Kidney – $2,170; Team Christi – $5,151; Team Stack – $1,787.

The Cocoa Beach Footprirnts In The Sand Kidney Beach Walk website will be open until June 30, 2012 for people to wrap up fundraising efforts!

Visit the National Kidney Foundation of Florida on Facebook to find pictures of family, friends and teams!

kidneyfla.org  |  Toll Free 1 800 927 9659

NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA 1040 WOODCOCK RD, SUITE 119, ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32803