EVERY STEP GETS US CLOSER TO A CURE WITH YOUR SUPPORT!
DONATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL NOVEMBER 3* | ALL DONATIONS ARE MATCHED!
*Although Walk for Talk traditionally wraps up on October 31, there is one more Walk for Talk event on Saturday, November 2, in Birmingham, AL, so we've extend the donation window to November 3.
WHY WE WALK FOR TALK
"Walk for Talk is my powerful voice that can be heard for miles in hopes of changing the lives of those with voice disorders."
"Walk for Talk is a way we can support research into finding a cure for spasmodic dysphonia."
"Walk for Talk is my powerful voice that can be heard for miles in hopes of changing the lives of those with voice disorders."
"When participating in Walk for Talk, I like knowing that I am part of something bigger than myself. This is our reminder that we are not alone and that our voices matter!”
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Join us for the 5th Annual Walk for Talk from October 17-20, 2024. This event is an opportunity to come together as a community and make a difference in the lives of people with vocal disorders.
This is not your typical walk. It's a powerful stride towards a better future by helping raise more awareness and support for research of spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions.
All are welcome. There is no cost to participate, and no matter your location, age, or connection to Dysphonia International, we are all working together in our pursuit of a cure and a world without communication challenges caused by voice disorders. Be sure to register to be part of a map highlighting the locations of participants worldwide.
You decide how to participate. The key is to find what aligns with your interests and abilities while being part of Walk for Talk. It could be walking, running, biking, well you get the idea. The "focus weekend" is October 17-20, 2024, but we have events in October and even one in September. Click here for ideas!
Every dollar makes a difference. With a goal of $100,000, all donations are being matched, meaning every contribution made to the Walk for Talk has double the impact. This will allow us to fund more research to find answers and solutions for vocal disorders.
NEW THIS YEAR! We have added two new registration options for individuals. The first one is the Walk for Talk Step Challenge for the month of October, where you can log your steps. The default is set for 35,000 in honor of our 35th anniversary, but you can easily change that.
The second event is the Larry Kolasa Memorial 5K. This virtual 5K (meaning you complete it at your own pace) honors the memory of our Founding President Larry Kolasa, who was an avid runner. Larry completed many marathons, including the northernmost marathon in the world—480 miles North of the Arctic Circle at the end of Baffin Island, Arctic Bay (pop. 500), Nunavut Province, Canada. Larry proudly completed this event in 1999 and ran for research to benefit our organization. To participate in this event, there is a donation of $35 (again in honor of our anniversary), and you will receive a Walk for Talk medal and fan. We have a few more surprises planned around this event, too!
So, whether you're walking with your loved ones, colleagues, or furry companions, you can use your feet to help us beat spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions, including vocal tremor, vocal cord paralysis/paresis, and muscle tension dysphonia.
No matter where you live, you can participate in the 5th Annual Walk for Talk! This event is about bringing our community together so that everyone's voice is heard. Started in 2020, the Walk for Talk empowers people in our community by sharing their stories and insights into their daily challenges. It is a multi-generational event that brings together family, friends, co-workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, speech-language pathology students, and even pets. We hope you will join us!
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
SPONSOR
Sponsorship not only showcases your company and but also demonstrates your commitment to our community and the people we serve. In addition to the different sponsorship levels, in-person events have further opportunities to highlight your organization locally.
FUNDRAISE
By being a fundraiser for Walk for Talk, you are inviting your community to participate in an event that is meaningful to you. This creates a network of support and solidarity while empowering others to make their voices heard.
DONATE
No matter the amount, your contribution to Walk for Talk makes a difference by supporting valuable programs focused on research, education, awareness, and support that help individuals with voice disorders that impact every facet of their daily lives
OUR IMPACT WITH YOUR SUPPORT
THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE:
- Funded three new research grants.
- Provided augmentive funding to support five research projects, including a treatment clinical trial on a new neurotoxin.
- Awarded twelve Travel Awards and two Conference Awards to individuals presenting at the annual meetings of professional voice associations.
- Established partnerships with two new professional laryngology societies in Europe.
- Organized a virtual Research Workshop for investigators funded by Dysphonia International.
- Appointed three new members to our Scientific Advisory Board.
- Participated in two scientific symposia, including one international.
BECAUSE OF THE FUNDS RAISED SINCE WALK FOR TALK STARTED IN 2020, OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN DISTRIBURED TO SUPPORT RESEARCH IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS!
THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE:
- Hosted our first in-person Symposium since 2019.
- Exhibited at three professional voice conferences.
- Presented to Laryngology Fellows at the Fall Voice Conference.
- Sponsored eight webinars with a total of 3,100 people registered from an average of 30 countries.
- Launched a World Voice Day awareness campaign highlighting the theme Your Voice Matters.
- Coordinated ten presentations for the Guest Speaker Program to graduate-level Speech-Language Pathology students.
- Organized the 4th Annual Walk for Talk, which included both worldwide individual participation and 22 in-person events. Ten of these were first-time walks, and many of those were hosted by healthcare professionals. Our community raised an unprecedented $124,566, and with the dollar-for-dollar match, a grand total of $249,132 was generated to fund research and programs.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE:
- Organized and promoted 55 virtual, 29 in-person, and five hybrid support group meetings.
- Hosted an in-person Leadership Workshop for the first time since 2019.
- Launched a monthly series of virtual meetings for our Support Network Leadership, rotating between Area Contact Leaders, Support Group Leaders, and joint leadership.
- Introduced a Spotlight on a Leader Program, highlighting the great work of our volunteer leaders.
- Created a Leadership Library - a robust online resource site for our leaders.
- Sponsored two Media Workshops with reporter Peter Haskell for our Support Leadership Network.
- Presented the Midge Kovacs Award, the Dot Sowerby Awareness Award, and the Larry Kolasa Founding President’s Award.
- Published the quarterly online newsletter, Voices of Support, highlighting the work of the volunteer Support Network.
TOP SPONSORS
Thank you to all of our sponsors for their generous support of the 5th Annual Walk for Talk!
Elite Sponsors
Endurance Sponsors
Sprinter Sponsors
Speedster Sponsors
USING OUR FEET TO BEAT SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA AND RELATED VOICE CONDITIONS
The mission of Dysphonia International is to improve the lives of people affected by spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions by finding answers through research, building understanding through education and awareness, and raising hope through support for those living with these challenging vocal disorders. Since it began in 2020, Walk for Talk has embodied our collective commitment to making a lasting impact. Every step we take during this walk symbolizes a step towards a brighter future for those we serve.
Dysphonia International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 86-3907079.
