Connect Issues Fall 2021

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Houston. “If Marfan was going to be something we were going to have in our lives, we wanted to meet other people who were living with it. Now, we want to help other people learn and connect.” Life’s made up of moments—and every day is an opportunity to make more. We walk to raise funds for life-saving and life-enhancing programs. With each step, you’ll create more meaningful moments. We hope to see you at one of our Walks for Victory in the coming year. “While ribbons tied together can symbolize a bond, the cutting of a ribbon signifies a fresh start. A ribbon can be stretched across an entryway to signify that what is behind the ribbon is waiting to be presented to the world.”

It’s a magical feeling…standing under the red and purple balloons, surrounded by a supportive community, getting ready to cut the ribbon and charge forward together. After two years since a full season of in-person events, we are thrilled to bring our community together again for a fresh start at our 2021-2022 Walks for Victory. We hope you will join our Walk program which brings the Marfan, Loeys-Dietz (LDS), Vascular Ehlers-Danlos (VEDS), and related conditions community together. Each Walk is a non-athletic, family-oriented event that focuses on fundraising and fun. The support of Walk participants and donors helps to ensure a better life for everyone with genetic aortic and vascular conditions. The first three Walks of the year are in Cleveland (September 19), St. Louis (October 3), and Orlando (December 11). Then, we have 17 more Walks for Victory around the US from February through June, 2022. And a virtual Global Walk on May 7, 2022. Visit Marfan.org/Walk to find the Walk nearest to you. “I loved being with the group, just walking and feeling the sense of connection with everyone there,” said Jessica Thomas, who attended the 2019 Indiana Walk for Victory. “We shared stories and laughed and cried together. It was an amazing day.” “We first got involved with the Walk for Victory because of the unknown,” said Justin Efurd, of

p PHOTOS ABOVE: Pre-pandemic ribbon-cutting at the St. Louis and Southern California Walk for Victory.

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Fall 2021