[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 78 (Monday, May 6, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE THIRTEENTH 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

                          Monday, May 6, 2024

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 11, 2024, thousands of 
residents from across Central Florida will gather at the Cocoa Beach 
Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to take part in the Thirteenth 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:
  Dawn Futch honoring Michael-Gene Futch, Paola Solis honoring 
Amishadai Solis, Nancy Velazquez honoring Pedro Batista, Monica 
Beyrooti honoring Seth Anthony Beyrooti, Giselle Rivera honoring Sean 
Bridges Rivera, Pat Brown honoring Michael Brown, Mary Carpenter 
honoring Shawn Carpenter, Kayla Carroll Lopez honoring Keegin Carroll, 
Leslia Collins honoring Jose Collins, Diana Couch honoring Linda Couch, 
Laura Dawkins honoring Brooke Dawkins, Shebna Dorsey honoring Andrew 
Dorsey, Jen Eden honoring Blake Eden, Annmarie Wong-Allen honoring 
Chadale ``CJ'' Grey, Cheryl Harrington honoring Brenton Lee Harrington, 
Siena Monroe honoring Jacob Emery Monroe, Jasmin Persaud honoring Anand 
Persaud, Donna Ramirez honoring Corey Ramirez, Tammy Lee honoring Dylan 
Rowe, Amber Shillingford honoring Brad Shillingford, Lucille Timms 
honoring Crystal Simmons, Tonnia Bennett honoring Tekeya Smith, 
Shereese Thompson honoring Deja Thompson, Traci Tracy honoring Zoe 
Tracy, Ellen Tuech honoring Geoffrey ``Geoff'' Wasden, Sheryl Walker 
honoring Donald Walker, Jr., Carol LoBianco honoring Stacie Ann Wheeler 
and Cathy Woodall honoring Shawn 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.

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