[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E407-E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE TWELFTH ANNUAL COCOA BEACH ``FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND'' 
     KIDNEY WALK AND THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2023

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 13, 2023, thousands of 
residents from across Central Florida will gather at the Cocoa Beach 
Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in the Twelfth Annual 
``Footprints in the Sand'' Cocoa Beach Kidney Walk. Katie and I have 
joined others in our community in participating since the first walk 
was organized in 2012 by Rich Salick, Bill Hahn and volunteers with the 
Florida Affiliate 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 of Florida, 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:
  Nancy Velazquez honoring Pedro Batista, Moncia Beyrooti honoring Seth 
Anthony Beyrooti, Pat Brown honoring Michael Brown, Mary Carpenter 
honoring Shawn Carpenter, Kayla Carroll Lopez honoring Keegin Carroll,

[[Page E408]]

Sherri Wilson honoring William Garrett Coe, Leslia Collins honoring 
Jose Collins, Diana Couch honoring Linda Couch, Robin Covello honoring 
Michael Covello, Crystal Lopez honoring Giovanni Cruz, Laura Dawkins 
honoring Brooke Dawkins, Kathleen DeLeonardo honoring Anthony 
DeLeonardo, Shebna Dorsey honoring Andrew Dorsey, Jen Eden honoring 
Blake Eden, Tamara Edwards honoring Boris Edwards, Lori Evenson 
honoring Nick Evenson, Dawn Futch honoring Michael-Gene Futch, Annmarie 
Wong Allen honoring Chadale ``CJ'' Grey, Cheryl Harrington honoring 
Brenton Lee Harrington, Jasmin Persaud honoring Anand Persaud, Tammy 
Lee honoring Dylan Rowe, Irene Seltzer honoring Zachary Seltzer, Amber 
Shillingford honoring Brad Shillingford, Tonnia Bennett honoring Tekeya 
Smith, Bernadette Thompson honoring Kayla Marie Thompson, Ellen Tuech 
honoring Geoffrey ``Geoff'' Wasden and Cathy Woodall honoring 
Christopher Woodall.
  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.

                          ____________________