"March for Miracles" Fundraising Benefit in August

Click here to view photos from the event.

On Saturday, August 24, 2002, the ARDS Foundation gathered at the Chicago Botanic Garden's for its annual fundraiser for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Though the threatening Chicago skies kept some walkers away, the clouds cleared and it was a beautiful day for the many who attended from near and far.

After registration, walkers picked up a 'March for Miracles" T-shirt, with many inspirational phrases inscribed on the back, stopped off at the picnic area for a bagel, some fruit or something to drink, met some of the other walkers or volunteers, and then off it was to the beautiful and serene gardens.
	Following the walk, there was music to listen to, hot dogs, chips, popcorn, cookies, snow cones, face painting, tattoos, soft drinks, water, and juices. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to share what their connection was to this devastating syndrome...to tell their stories and experiences and explain how they were affected by ARDS.

Eileen Rubin Zacharias, President of the ARDS Foundation, welcomed the guests and volunteers and introduced Dr. Jane Dematte, from Northwestern University in Chicago, who has worked with the foundation since its inception and spoke about why a group such as the ARDS Foundation is so important to the community and those who are dealing with a loved one in ARDS crisis, those who are post ARDS, and also for the medical community to offer elements that they cannot give which is the patient and family perspective.

Dr. Jane Dematte

Dr. Steve Yarnall

Dr. Steve Yarnall, who has written "Beyond Medicine" then spoke about his experience with getting ARDS and what motivated him to write his book, which deals with Love, Prayer, Humor, Touch, Music and Pets, the six elements of healing which deals with what one can get beyond medicine...hope.

Finally, Paula Blonski, Vice-president of the ARDS Foundation, whose sister Marybeth passed away from ARDS at the age of thirty-six, acknowledged all of those people who came to the walk and were walking in memory or in honor of a loved one. She, too, reiterated those words that Dr. Yarnall spoke of...hope, as she said that standing there among a group of survivors, though it made her think of, and sadly remember her sister, it also gave her hope that we were gathered there that day trying to do something to make change, to make improvement. Paula recognized the people who attended from out of town, Dee Storey, from Michigan, Colleen and Jim Shelstad and their two sons, from Wisconsin, and Meg Tapucol-Provo and Tom Provo & Steven and Lynn Yarnall, all from the state of Washington.

At the end of the day, all of the raffle prizes were raffled off and finally, the First ARDS Quilt was raffle off. The winner of the quilt was Gail Sype, from Saginaw, Michigan. And when Gail learned that she had won the quilt, she contacted the ARDS Foundation and has offered to donate this first quilt to the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago for display. How wonderful!

Learn more OR Submit a quilt square.

As many were helping to clean up, talk turned to next year's fundraiser and what more could be done to raise public awareness and educate those throughout the country who have never heard of this devastating syndrome of course, many of us had not heard of until it struck home.... Kitty McAndrews, from the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, who volunteered at the event and has been an enormous help to the ARDS Foundation since its inception, was in attendance and contributed her knowledge as well. With members, new and old, the ARDS Foundation will impart not only its knowledge, but its passion to educate others about acute respiratory distress syndrome, while support families who unfortunately are faced with the diagnosis of ARDS, giving them hope and understanding.

Lester Lampert, Inc. Fine Jewelry 57 East Oak Street Chicago, IL 60611 312-944-6888 $500.00 gift certificate Lester Lampert, Inc. Fine Jewelry	Circuit City.com $100 Gift Card
Over The Top, Ltd. 1866 First St. Highland Park, IL 60035 $25 gift certificate	The Bergoff 17 West Adams Street Chicago, IL 60603 312-427-3170 $50 Gift Certificate
Tony n' Tina's Wedding 230 W. North Ave Chicago, IL 60610 Two tickets	Wilmette Theatre 1122 Central Avenue Wilmette, IL  60091 Four Movie Tickets
Lutheran General Hospital Fitness Center 1875 Dempster Street, Suite G01 Park Ridge, IL 60068 3 Month Short Term Membership ($123.00 value)	Morton J. Rubin, Attorney 3100 Dundee, Suite 502 Northbrook, IL 60062 847-272-1234 A Simple Will
Auditorium Theatre 50 E. Congress Parkway Chicago, IL 60605 Tour of the historic landmark Auditorium Theatre for a group of ten	Associates in Oral Health Dr. John Edgar 4801 W. Peterson Chicago, IL 60646 773-736-0815 A Teeth Whitening
Hair by Via Venato 181 Skokie Valley Road Highland Park, IL 60035 847-831-3770 Manicure ($18 value)	P.F. Chang's 1819 Lake Cook Road Northbrook, IL 60062 $20 'be our guest' certificate $75.00 'be our guest' certificate
Chicago While Sox: An Official Major League baseball autographed by Chicago White Sox player Gary Glover	Lowes Cineplex Entertainment Two Movies Tickets Value $18.00 www.enjoytheshow.com
Grazniano's 5960 West Touhy Niles, IL 60714 $25.00 Gift Certificate	Lowes Cineplex Entertainment www.enjoytheshow.com 2 Movies Tickets Value $18.00
Marie Flood A Twig Bench Hand crafted by Marie	Chicago Prime Steakhouse 1370 Bank Drive Schaumburg, IL 60173 847-967-9900 Three gift certificates for $25
Ron of Japan 633 Skokie Blvd. Northbrook, IL 847-564-5900 Two complimentary Crown Dinners	Chicago Bulls 1901 W Madison Street Chicago, IL 60612 Chicago Bulls baseball hat and two Chicago Bulls CDs
Brinker International www.brinker.com $30 gift certificate for Corner Bakery	Bob Chinn's Crab House 393 S. Milwaukee Avenue Wheeling, IL 60090 Two $25 Gift certificates
Royal George Theatre www.latenitecatechism.com 710 W. Junior Terrace Chicago, IL 60613 Late nite Catechism Two Tickets valued at $30 each	J. Terri Ross, Ltd. 660 Vernon Avenue Glencoe, IL 60022 847-835-9660 Hair color, cut & blow dry valued at $110
Toshiba Thirteen inch colorTV/VCR combo and a ten pack of VCR tapes value $150.00 Donated by Mark Lowery of West Roxbury, MA	Mendel Money Management 1200 Sermer Road Suite 312 Northbrook, Illinois 60062 847-564-0979 Free 1 Hour Financial Planning Session
Sunset Foods Highland Park, Lake Forest Libertyville, Northbrook $25 Gift certificate	Tong's Hunan Chinese Restaurant & Lounge 4145 W. Dundee Rd Northbrook, IL 60062 Lunch for Two
Carissima Salons 2901 N Clark Street Chicago, IL 773-935-7009 Spa Haircut with Tony
Handmaid Treasures Custom Craft Creations Gail E. Sype, Designer 2541 Shattuck Road Saginaw, MI 43601 Necklace (pictured at right)
Handmaid Treasures Custom Craft Creations Gail E. Sype, Designer 2541 Shattuck Road Saginaw, MI 43601 Necklace (pictured at right)
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises $75 Gift Certificate Wildfire Restaurant www.wildfirerestaurant.com $75 Gift Certificate Ben Pao www.lettuceentertainyou.com
Harris Bank 500 E. Devon Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 $100 Saving Bond

Sponsors:

Thanks also to the following sponsors who gave generously of their time
and resources to help make this event happen.

Ressler/Gertz Family Foundation

Ross.com

KCD Web Design and Hosting

Sharprint

Minute Maid

Whole Foods Market 760 Waukegan Road Deerfield, IL 60015 847-444-1900

Once Upon A Bagel 1888 1st St Highland Park, IL 60035 847-433-1411

Village Market Place 4034 W. Dempster Skokie, IL 60076 847-933-0900

Produce World Meats & More 8800 Waukegan Road Morton Grove, IL 60053 847-581-1029

Hy-Vee Food Stores 1651 Midtown Road Peru, IL

Dade Behring 1717 Deerfield Road Deerfield, IL 60015

ARDS Foundation
3330 Dundee Rd. Suite C4
Northbrook, IL 60062
PH: 312-749-7047

Eileen Rubin Zacharias, President
Paula Blonski, Vice President

The ARDS Foundation

All donations are tax deductible in the amount allowed by the law. The ARDS Foundation is a federal 501(c)(3) organization.

Web Design by Web Dezign Studio in McHenry County