Recognizing the Thirteenth Annual Cocoa Beach ``Footprints in the Sand'' Kidney Walk and Those Who Have Given the Precious Gift of Life

Floor Speech

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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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