Long Island’s Promise Walk for Preeclampsia to kick off in Rockville Centre
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia, a national fundraising and awareness initiative, is coming to Long Island.
The Promise Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 at South Side Middle School in Rockville Centre.
More than just a fundraiser, the Promise Walk is a powerful opportunity to bring the community together in support of life-saving research, education and advocacy led by The Preeclampsia Foundation.
A life-threatening pregnancy complication, preeclampsia typically involves high blood pressure and damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys. It can develop rapidly and unpredictably, putting both mother and baby at serious risk. Despite being one of the leading causes of maternal and infant illness and death worldwide, it remains underdiagnosed and largely misunderstood.
Alexis LaVacca and Andrea Bernardo, the co-chairs of the Long Island Promise Walk, have both been impacted by preeclampsia. Alexis had to undergo an emergency C-section after being diagnosed with the disease and her baby did not survive. Andrea developed severe preeclampsia after the delivery of both of her children and will require life-long monitoring as a result of her postpartum complications.
But the two brave women are turning their experience into purpose and using their voices to raise awareness and amplify the work being done to improve outcomes for all families. In just a few months, they’ve raised nearly $17,000, and their efforts are ongoing.
The pair stress that this walk is more than an event — it’s a promise. A promise to honor the babies and mothers lost, the mothers who’ve suffered, and the families still fighting.
“We walk for the millions impacted by preeclampsia,” the co-chairs say. “And we walk with hope that the future will look different — for our daughters, our sisters, and every parent-to-be.”
LaVacca and Bernardo plan to make the Promise Walk an annual tradition here on Long Island.
“This is just the beginning,” they said. “Each year, we will continue building community, raising awareness, and driving fundraising efforts to support research and advocacy until every pregnancy is safer and every outcome more hopeful.”
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia takes place on a comfortable track that is stroller and wheelchair accessible. The family-friendly event also features refreshments, raffles, DJ, and more.
For more information, visit preeclampsia.org/events/long-island-promise-walk-for-preeclampsia.
If your business is interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor at the event, email Alexis and Andrea at: [email protected].
