[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 73 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E591-E592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SEVENTH ANNUAL COCOA BEACH KIDNEY WALK AND THOSE WHO 
                  HAVE GIVEN THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2018

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 12, 2018, thousands of 
residents from across Central Florida will gather at the Cocoa Beach 
Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in the Seventh Annual 
``Footprints in the Sand'' Cocoa Beach Kidney Walk. Katie and I have 
joined others in our community in participating every year since the 
first walk was organized in 2012 by Rich Salick, Bill Hahn and 
volunteers with the Florida Chapter of the National Kidney Foundation.
  The ``Footprints in the Sand'' Kidney Walk brings our community 
together to show our love and concern. So many of us have family, 
friends and loved ones that are afflicted by kidney disease and they 
need our strength and support. The road ahead is not easy for them, but 
as the kidney walk demonstrates, they do not have to travel that path 
alone.
  The National Kidney Foundation, its supporters and activists have 
made a significant difference in people's lives. They not only raise 
awareness about this disease but they have helped push for much needed 
changes in our laws and new innovations to give patients more treatment 
options and a better quality of life.
  This year organizers of the kidney walk will recognize organ donors 
and their families for giving the precious gift of life so that others 
could receive a second chance and continue with their lives.
  Those recognized include: Patricia Brown on behalf of Michael Robert 
Brown, Mary and Bill Carpenter on behalf of Shawn Carpenter, Billie 
Lomonaco on behalf of Tiffany Accardi, Dawn and Mike Futch on behalf of 
Michael-Gene Futch, Deborah and Dennis Thrope on behalf of Jessica 
Carter, Diane Couch on behalf of Linda Couch, Jasmine and Trip Persaud 
on behalf of Tribhawan Anand Persaud, Chris and Laura Dawkins on behalf 
of Brooke Dawkins, Jen and Timothy Eden on behalf of Blake Eden, Laila 
Merolle on behalf of Mario Merolle, Patricia and Obdulio Rivera on 
behalf of Sebastian Rivera, Ada Torres and Efrain Morales on behalf of 
Neysha Estrella, Michelle Lashley on behalf of Jharod Lashley, Theresa 
Black on behalf of Timothy Bishop,

[[Page E592]]

Neil and Vivien Pogeler on behalf of Scott Pogeler, Dee Hill on behalf 
of Cora Hill and Jeb Jones.
  I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
in recognizing the strong will of these caring families, their loved 
ones, and all those who have joined the effort and worked tirelessly to 
raise awareness about kidney disease.

                          ____________________