2006 Recognition of Our Volunteers

FRIDAY VOLUNTEERS

• Sheila Grey
  President, Nevada Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Sheila recently took over as president of our chapter. She is helpful, caring and goes over and beyond for the group in everything she does. She has also put together a bigger office for the group.”

• Linda Burkhart
  Columbus Support Group Leader, Ohio Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

• Bonnie Davidson
  Events Assistant, Southern California Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Bonnie drives an hour and half each way every Thursday to volunteer at the Chapter office. She is responsible for tracking all the donations related to our Walk and Gala. We could not do it without her. She is a real gem and a great fundraiser.”

• Chris and Heather Lee
  Independent Volunteers
  Canadian, Texas Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Walk

  “Chris and Heather worked hard to get awareness out about scleroderma and helped in a tremendous way with the first-ever walk in Canadian. They helped in any way they could and were very supportive with the walk.”

• Anita Webb
  Independent Volunteer
  Canadian, Texas Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Walk

  “Anita did a great job helping out with the walk in Canadian. She worked hard to get awareness out and helped in any way possible with the other things. She did a great job with the walk!”

• Kristen Magnuson
  Organizer, Worcester, Mass. Walk, New England Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Kristen is 16 years old and a junior at Bancroft School. She has been involved with the Worcester Walk for four years now. Last summer she was a volunteer at the national convention held in Boston. Kristen is to be commended for her time and dedication to the walk held in Worcester. Her job is a long project. She has been responsible for getting volunteers to form a committee. She is responsible for getting donations of food and raffle donations, setting up games and getting volunteers to help on the day of the walk for set-up, clean up, cooking, raffle table, music and entertainment, and just getting the word out there. Her brother Eric started the walks from Bancroft School when Kristen was in the eighth grade and she has worked her way up in taking on more and more responsibilities and leadership. It can be more frustrating at times for a teenager to go out and solicit help from the companies and other adults, but Kristen has stuck with it. Not many teenagers would.”

• Marie Coyle
  New England Chapter Board Member/Newsletter editor
  Scleroderma Foundation

“Marie has scleroderma and has worked since founding the over-30-year old New England Chapter, Scleroderma Federation and Scleroderma Foundation. She has been an active board member, holding many offices over the years and writing the "Beacon" newsletter and edited many pamphlets and books about scleroderma. She has always stepped in wherever needed to help groups form and keep active helping patients and their families.”

• Josephine Battyany
  Board member, Southern California Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “She is and has been for years a devoted worker for any job needing done in the chapter, including the time she spent helping organize the Scleroderma Foundation.”

• Shirley Frye
  Jack-of-all-Trades, Youngstown, Ohio Area Support Group
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Shirley Frye is my mother and when we found out she had scleroderma, we’d never heard of it before. So she set out to learn more and get involved. She found her support group and started volunteering. My mom not only has scleroderma, but also Raynaud’s, pulmonary hypertension, a heart condition, and rheumatoid arthritis. We know her time with us is now limited as the scleroderma is taking over, causing most of her organs to fail. In the past few months she has been in and out of the hospital for various different reasons. I am her primary caregiver, I take her to all her doctor’s appointments, set up all her meds and basically do all I can for her. But in the past few months—no matter is she is in the hospital or at home recuperating—she is working on crafts for the support group, crosses for the grab bags for the walk, or anything else she can help with. She has made little ribbons to wear. Her whole life is to try and help out to ring awareness and, hopefully, find a cure, not only for her but also for the thousands of others.”

• Tom Bazemore
  Past Board Member, Southern California Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Tom has been a founding member since the early 1980s of the now-merged Scleroderma Federation Santa Barbara Chapter Office followed by the Scleroderma Foundation. He was an active board member of the national organization and the Southern California Chapter. He and his wife, Polly, still talk about scleroderma by phone with any patients directed to them.”

• Bonnie Davidson
  Support Group Leader, Orange County (CA)
  Southern California Chapter
  Scleroderma Foundation

  “Bonnie is the leader of the Southern California/Orange County Support Group, and also volunteers her time at all Scleroderma Foundation events. In addition to organizing and leading meetings, she always makes herself available for any patient or caregiver who may need information or an encouraging word. She really reaches out to people to let them know they’re not alone. Bonnie always has an upbeat attitude and is there for people, even at times when she may not feel very well herself. She can always be counted on and is admired for her strength and untiring dedication. She is truly an inspiration!”