By Traci Wilkes Smith
On March 20, 2010, one of the more beautiful first days of Spring in many years, more than 40 walkers gathered in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY for a 5K walk to spread the word about blood clots in recognition of March DVT Awareness Month. Family, friends, members of the National Blood Clot Alliance and the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA) donned the StopTheClot® signature red and white polka dotted T-shirts and wristbands to showcase the organization’s key message. Alan Brownstein, CEO, Kristen Holgerson, Director of Development, and Traci Wilkes Smith, Vice President of National Blood Clot Alliance, and Yomi Ajaiyeoba, Community Service Chair of ABWA welcomed the participants, and thanked the top fundraisers for their commitment and dedication to such an important cause.
Traci started the event with an inspiring message to the participants that one vital goal of this walk was to help save at least one life by raising awareness about the risk of blood clots.
Then the walk began! The dedicated walkers navigated the foot and bike traffic going in the reverse direction in the park, and the National Blood Clot Alliance banner was carried front and center, and Stop the Clot® materials were distributed to the passersby. Joggers and bicyclists were high-fived, and the energy was infectious. Alan Brownstein created the following ditty for walkers to chant and bystanders to hear:
“We do our walk,
We do our trot,
As we chant the words: Stop the Clot®!
Prospect Park hits the spot
Get the message
Stop the Clot!
The ABWA team is what we got
Stop the Clot!!!
Stop the Clot!!!”
The following week, on March 25, 2010, the team gathered for a celebratory reception at Georgia’s Boutique in Soho, NY. Dr. Jacob H Rand, MD FACP Director, Hematology Laboratories, Montefiore Medical Center, gave valuable information about the signs and symptoms of blood clots. Caitlin Augustine, a young, multiple DVT survivor, shared her compelling story. It was a successful evening and another opportunity to deliver the essential Stop the Clot ® message!
Stop The Clot ® pins were handed out to top Team ABWA fundraisers to commend their effort that ended up raising almost $5,000.
