Hello Everyone and Welcome to Mariann's Minions 21st annual Home Page supporting the Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Boardman Walk!

It is the 21st year that my family organizes and conducts a walk to support the National Scleroderma Foundation! (It has been 23 years since my wife's, Mariann, diagnosis with scleroderma - she is doing pretty well and in no small part due to the efforts of the National Scleroderma Foundation)

Thanks to all of our sponsors, donors and supporters who helped us make last year's "get back together in-person" walk such a success.  And we intend to build on all the positive momentum and make this year's as good or BETTER!  And our deepest gratitude to everyone who has made all of our 20 walks a fundraising cornerstone of the Lower Great Lakes chapter of the National Scleroderma Foundation!

As we have done the past 2 walks, Mariann and I are once again putting out the challenge that we will match all donations for our teams up to $5,000 each (that's $10,000 total).  With your help (and spurred on in at least some cases by the extra joy folks have in spending our money), we will happily write checks for the full amount!

In my role as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Scleroderma Foundation, I have gained greater insights and a deeper appreciation for all the positive ways the Foundation supports our patients/caregivers, provides education to the scleroderma community and funds research to find the cause and the cure.  As our Chapters grow and our full national presence matures, our goal is to make these wonderful programs and services accessible by all those affected by scleroderma in the most effective way for them.  Through the generous support of our partners and our donors, the National Scleroderma Foundation is the recognized leader supporting the scleroderma community and is the leading private funder of research.

As a reminder, Scleroderma is a chronic, often progressive immunocompromising disease affecting hundreds of thousands of people and their families. This disease affects 4 times as many women as men and literally, the name Scleroderma means "Hard Skin". It can cause thickening and tightening of the skin and too often leads to serious (and sometimes fatal) damage to internal organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. It is a highly individualized disease and its involvement may range from mild symptoms to life threatening complications. As a chronic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue, the body's immune system literally attacks itself through the overproduction of collagen and is often accompanied by other debilitating conditions.  There are over 300,000 people living with scleroderma - and thousands more being diagnosed every year.

Please help us again this year by making a contribution to find the cause, discover the cure and support our patients/caregivers.

Use the links ("Donate Now") to make a secure donation. And if you can, join us on June 1st - in person or even take a walk wherever you are and share the videos!

If you wish to mail-in a gift, send to:

Scleroderma Foundation

300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105

Danvers, MA 01923

Make checks payable to: Scleroderma Foundation. In the memo line, please add my full name and 2024 Stepping Out - Boardman OH (Lower Great Lakes Chapter)

As always, we are blessed by such generous friends and family and wish all of you the best of health this coming year - and our heartfelt thanks for helping us support those who have this disease and who are supporting our fight!

With our deepest gratitude and affection,

Mariann and Kevin Boyanowski