Walk for Ryan - March 31, 2007- RESULTS
March 31, 2007 was a special day in Lancaster, South Carolina. It marked the ‘Walking for Ryan’ Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS) Fundraiser, led by Donna White. It transformed the way an entire community understands KLS.
Donna White’s son, Ryan McKinney, who suffered from KLS, died tragically last year from unrelated heart ailments. Longing to keep Ryan’s spirit alive, Donna courageously organized a fundraiser in Ryan’s memory to raise awareness about KLS and funds for KLS medical research.
On a beautiful Saturday morning, the Lancaster community came out to the local track and field recreational center. After months of planning, Donna and her dedicated steering committee welcomed three hundred attendees. The crowd enjoyed the many activities that had been arranged. These included a photo session with professional athletes Sheldon Brown and Darrell Shropshire, an auction of NFL paraphernalia, singing by the local high school choir, a storytelling corner and moonwalk for kids, and the hands-down best southern BBQ in the state! For a grand finale, Donna, Dani Farber, and US Olympic gold medalist sprinter Shawn Crawford led the community around the track in a symbolic lap for Ryan and KLS.
With the local media present as well as Dani Farber, a representative from the KLS Foundation Board of Directors, ‘Walking for Ryan’ was able to educate many people about KLS as well as raising over $9000.00 for KLS research. The event was a true community effort, an extraordinary display of support for Donna honoring Ryan’s memory and the campaign to find a cure for KLS.
The KLS Foundation thanks Donna White and the Lancaster, South Carolina community, and is happy to announce that ‘Walking for Ryan’ will become an annual KLS Fundraiser. If you would like to participate in planning the 2008 event, please contact the KLS Foundation at http://www.KLSFoundation.org.
