Walk Strong Raleigh-Durham

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Time: 10:00 am

Location: Pullen Park - Shelter 4

RSVP HERE! https://forms.gle/osaZoVFuSjgBUWfh6

In the fall of 2021, we realized Lucy was having difficulties with typical childhood activities.  Even simple things like getting in our car or getting her shoes on became increasingly difficult for her.  We began searching for answers with her primary care doctor and started an almost year-long process that included seeing several specialists, physical therapy, X-rays, long drives, waiting rooms, and countless blood draws until we finally had a diagnosis.

June 2022, our Lucy girl was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) - her tricky little immune system has gotten confused and has started to fight off her muscles and skin.

For the last 3.5 years, Lucy has been receiving treatment to keep her JDM under control; her body is responding well, but there is still more work to be done.     

There's no cure yet, but progress is happening.  Every step and every donation fuels research, supports families, and brings us closer to better treatments - and one day, a cure.

Our family is joining the Walk Strong to Cure JM to raise funds for Cure JM, the only organization fully dedicated to this cause.  When we walk together, small steps create BIG change. 

To make the fundraising more fun, we are going to have a few benchmarks: 

• $1,500 - Mystery smoothie (a parent will drink a smoothie our girls make from anything in our pantry or fridge) 
• $2,500 - Daughter dress up date (Lucy and her sisters get to thrift a crazy outfit for one parent to wear as they go out for ice cream) 
• $4,000 - Paintball a parent - (Lucy and her sisters will get to use a paintball gun on one of her parents)
• $5,000 - A parent will get a CureJM tattoo in honor of Lucy and the kids fighting this disease