WI Co-Chair, Cindy Cronick lobbies in Washington for research funding and insurance coverage 5.12.18
Wisconsin Chapter Events
Wisconsin Run/Walk - October 10th, 2017 - REGISTER NOW!
Becca Kobus, LE&RN Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Chapter and best friend Rebecca Eggert-DeMarce
Rebecaa Kobus, WI Co-Chapter Chair of LE&RN and best friend Rebecca Eggert-DeMarce are all smiles after raising awareness for lymphedema at the Prevea Health Fair. In addition to chatting with hundreds about LE & Lymphatic Diseases, they got lots of folks excited about participating in our WI October Run/Walk fundraiser! Thank you Becca and Rebecca--you are an awesome duo!!!
Meet WI Chapter Co-Chair at the Prevea Health & Fitness Expo May 19-20
Come by the LE&RN table at the Prevea Health & Fitness Expo and meet WI Chapter Co-Chair, Rebecca Kobus. She will be talking about lymphedema & lymphathic diseases with the hundreds of marathon participants walking through the Expo. Say hello and sign up for the 2nd Annual Wisconsin Run/Walk to Fight Lymphema & Lymphatic Diseases on October 7th in Peshtigo, WI.
2017 Expo Schedule
Friday, May 19th 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 20th 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Lambeau Field
1265 Lombardi Avenue
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Chapter wins passage of World Lymphedema Day resolution
Pictured above, from left to right: Mayor Cathi Malke, Rebecca Kobus, Mary Lock; front center: Alaina Archambault. Photo credit: Peshtigo Times
The Wiconsin State Chapter of LE&RN, in conjunction with LE&RN-wide efforts for World Lymphedema Day, submitted a World Lymphedema Day (WLD) resolution to Mayor Cathi Malke. Mayor Malke put the resolution before the City Council and, on Tuesday, February 7, the Council passed the resolution in a unanimous vote. March 7 will be officially recognized as World Lymphedema Day in the City of Peshtigo. The Eagle Herald will feature the passage of the resolution on the front page.
Alaina Archambault, pictured above and daughter of Wisconsin Chapter co-Chair Rebecca Kobus, has advocated for WLD at her elementary school and awareness events will be held there for teachers, staff, and students.
Congratulations, Wisconsin! This is how we build global awareness -- one community at a time.
World Lymphedema Day to be officially recognized in Wisconsin, February 7th, 2017
"I have great news coming from the Wisconsin Chapter." Thus began an email from Becca Kobbus, co-Chair of LE&RN's Wisconsin Chapter.
A number of LE&RN Chapters agreed to ask their state and local governments to officially recognize March 6 as World Lymphedema Day. This was a daunting task as many had no experience in advocacy or in working with government. Still, many jumped in anyway. Wisconsin is an early success!
Thanks to the efforts of the Wisconsin Chapter, led by co-Chairs Becca Kobbus and Cindy Cronick, the City of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, is adopting a resolution making March 6 World Lymphedema Day. The signing of the resolution is on the agenda for the Tuesday, February 7, City Council meeting. Becca will attend as a representative of LE&RN.
In conjunction with this, Peshtigo public schools will recognize World Lymphedema Day. Details to come soon.
The Chapter also petitioned a State Senator to have World Lymphedema Day officially recognized by the State.
Way to go, Wisconsin!
The 1st Annual WI Chapter Run/Walk (Oct 8, 2016) was an inspirational day, says Chapter Co-Chair
The 1st Annual WI Run/Walk to Fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic Diseases was such an inspirational day. We couldn’t believe the great turnout and how so many people came together to learn about lymphedema and lymphatic diseases and to support those living with these diseases. As Co-Host, I believe the event was an incredible success due in part to the great volunteers. We formed a Walk Committee and by drawing on each person’s area of knowledge and strengths, each person executed their part beautifully.
I asked Kristin, a member of the WI Chapter to Co-Host the Walk with me and she became our go-to person for anything related to running or walking a 5K event. Kristin recruited Deb and Alyce and rounding out our Walk committee was Becca Kobus (WI Chapter Co-Chair), who became our go-to person for online projects and artistic design.
We started many months ahead of time and held regular meetings every other week. We solicited regional businesses for sponsorship funds and received positive responses. We also asked local businesses for in-kind donations and they responded generously. This helped keep the event costs to a minimum. We raised cash donations, participant give-aways, a gift certificate for our prize drawing, bottled water, snacks, fruit and Kashi sent us Kashi bars.
For the venue we chose a school in Osceola which allowed for ample parking and use of the building’s restrooms. For publicity, we submitted a story to local papers along with press releases. We posted flyers at local businesses and a few weeks before the event, we walked in a local parade, handing out Walk flyers while throwing candy. We promoted the event by posting our on local online sites, word of mouth and by emailing friends and family to participate and donate.
As race day neared, we recruited volunteers to help with all the various tasks and then held a volunteer meeting a few days before race day so that each person knew their job and had written responsibilities. We were so excited when the event t-shirts arrived and everything started coming together.
The big day began with a set up crew who worked to get all the tables and tents in place for our booths and another crew who followed up with getting runners and walkers registered. We had such great support from local businesses along with generous donations from LE&RN’s national sponsors Tactile Medical and Lohmann & Rauscher. Both companies had a booth at our event as well. Our Emcee kicked off the event with an introduction of Dr. Nancy Hutchison, our keynote speaker, who delivered a moving and informative speech. Visit our WI Chapter Facebook page to view the speech and photos from our event. We then asked each lymphedema patient to come forward to receive a balloon and then on the count of three, we simultaneously released our balloons, symbolizing a resolution to come out of the shadows and work together to raise awareness. Gone are the days of living in the shadows. Now is the time to speak up and demand change.
Throughout the day the volunteers did a great job operating as a team. First the kids ran in the ½ mile Fun Run which was a heart-warming and inspiring sight to experience. Next a timed 5K Walk-Run. Walkers and runners alike were excited to participate and enjoyed the beautiful fall scenery. The event concluded with prize drawings for several donated gifts.
I was so proud of our Walk Committee and all their hard work. I am so thankful for the kind support of the Osceola community; for our sponsors who gave generously to make this day possible, and for all the volunteers and participates that made this a great day to remember.
WI Chapter Run/Walk October 8th, 2016
The First Annual WI Chapter 5K Run/Walk to Fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic Disease will be held Saturday, October 8th, 2016 at Osceola Intermediate School, 949 Education Drive, Osceola. Check-in is from 8:00 to 9:00 am, with a 9:30 race start time. This 5K winds through Osceola with the final stretch through beautiful Schillberg Park. There is also a 1/2 mile Fun Run for kids beginning at 9:30 am. **Pre-registered participants will receive an event t-shirt which they can pick up along with their packet on Friday night from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, or on Saturday morning.** ~ $25.00 Registration fee and guaranteed event t-shirt through Sept. 21st ~ $35.00 Registration fee and event t-shirt while supplies last, after Sept. 21st ~ $15.00 Registration fee and event t-shirt for the 1/2 mile Fun Run
Wisconsin Chapter presents the 1st LE&RN Run/Walk in Wisconsin Oct 8th 2016
For more information and to register click here.
WI Chairs in DC
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Wisconsin Chapter Co-Chairs Rebecca Kobus (L) and Cindy Cronick (R) in Washington DC for lobby days, April 2016.