Scleroderma group to walk for a cure

BOARDMAN — Scleroderma Foundation’s Youngstown Support Group will hold its fourth Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma, a four-kilometer fun walk June 2 at Boardman Township Park, state Route 224, to raise funds in the fight against scleroderma.

The local event is one of 50 walks being held around the country during National Scleroderma Month. Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., with the walk to follow from 9:30 to noon. Refreshments will be available, and there will be other activities, including a 50/50 raffle, music by a disc jockey and a Chinese auction.

The minimum donation is $10 to participate; walkers raising $20 or more will receive a free T-shirt. Register online at www.scleroderma.org (click on Find A Walk) or contact Mariann Boyanowski at (330) 533-0552 or (maromf@aol.com); Marilyn Panagopoulos at (330) 286-5172 or (martomtee@aol.com); or Leni Schulz at (330) 654-2538 or (lenipenny1@neo.rr.com).

Scleroderma — which means “hard skin” — is a chronic, often progressive, autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own tissues. Its cause is unknown, and although medications may help, there is no cure. For more information on the event, call (330) 533-0552. To learn more about the disease and its symptoms, call (800) 722-4673.