GOLF TOURNAMENT

On Friday, October 11, in Northbridge, MA, the First Annual Golf Tournament benefiting VWD Connect was held. The event was organized by Stephanie and Kevin Roche, dedicated parents of a daughter with sVWD. “It took about eight months to prepare for the tournament,” says Stephanie. “We came up with the idea immediately after Cecilia was diagnosed in January of 2024. Once we saw there was limited public awareness about VWD, and given how much we valued our experience with the VWD Connect Foundation, we knew we needed to help.”

The day was filled with camaraderie, laughter, and a shared commitment to supporting the Foundation. Participants enjoyed a round of golf while raising crucial funds to further our mission. As a bonus, the event was a vehicle to spread awareness of sVWD. “We also were able to educate the attendees on what severe VWD is and the impact it has on individuals who have this disease,” says Stephanie. “This was a plus for us because our family, friends and local community now know about the disease, and will hopefully educate others.”

The Foundation extends heartfelt gratitude to the Roche family and all attendees and volunteers. Every effort, whether it’s holding an event, sharing our mission on Facebook, engaging with other patients, signing up for the patient registry, or even just being an active member of our community, every action plays a vital role in advancing our cause. The Foundation is deeply grateful for all of the countless ways our patients and their supporters contribute to our community!

Unfortunately, the Foundation’s Executive Director, Jeanette Cesta was not able to attend due to Hurricane Milton. However the event was attended by two of our Members living in the area, Heather Hoiseth and Carol Firth. We would like to give a special thanks to them for representing the community and documenting their experience through the pictures in the November 2024 newsletter article!