March for Miracles
sponsored by The ARDS Foundation
August 24, 2002
Chicago Botanic Gardens

Although we woke up to threatening skies on the morning of August 24th, the sun finally came out and the day ended up beautiful for the March for Miracles fundraiser sponsored by The ARDS Foundation.  Participants included survivors, family members of both survivors and those who had passed away from ARDS, medical professionals and local supporters of The ARDS Foundation.

Dee Storey, an ARDS survivor from Saginaw, Michigan, created a beautiful ARDS quilt which was raffled off.  Coincidentally, Dee's friend, Gail, won the quilt, but Gail generously donated the quilt to the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, where it will be displayed.

Speakers included Eileen Rubin Zacharias, ARDS survivor and President of The ARDS Foundation, Paula Blonski, Vice-President of The ARDS Foundation, whose sister passed away from ARDS, Dr. Jane Dematte, from Northwestern University in Chicago, who has worked with the foundation since its inception, and Dr. Steve Yarnall, ARDS survivor and author of the book, "Beyond Medicine".  

On Saturday evening, a dinner was held in Arnold and Bobbie Rubin's home for the out-of town guests.  This gave the out-of-town families a chance to get to meet each other and some of the local ARDS Foundation supporters.  The foundation ultimately raised over $14,000 to help continue in its mission to educate and support ARDS patients and survivors.

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Preparing for the walk From L to R:  Eileen Rubin Zacharias (President of The ARDS Foundation), Meg Tapucol-Provo (Founder of the Northwest ARDS Support Network) and Dee Storey (Creator of the ARDS Quilt).  All are ARDS survivors.
 
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From L to R:  Dee Storey, Eileen Rubin Zacharias, Paula Blonski, Meg Tapucol-Provo, Dr. Steve Yarnall One of the quilt squares
  
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Lynn Yarnall and Dr. Steve Yarnall with their quilt square. Meg Tapucol-Provo and Tom Provo with their quilt square.
  
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And the walk begins... Dr. Jane Lematte addressing the crowd.
   
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Dr. Steve Yarnall speaks at the walk.  Paula Blonski is in the background. Our gracious hosts at the Saturday evening dinner:  Bobbie Rubin, Eileen Rubin Zacharias, Arnold Rubin.
 
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Jim and Colleen Shelstad with their sons Kyle (left) and Christopher.  The Shelstads, from Wisconsin, lost their 17-year-old daughter, Courtney, to ARDS in July, 1999. Dee Storey (left) and Meg Tapucol-Provo chat with local ARDS Foundation supporters at the Saturday evening dinner.