Reflections on the 4th Annual Walk for Talk

Every October, Walk for Talk is our opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the research of spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions. No matter where you live or what voice condition you have, all are welcome to join our effort. By inviting friends, family, co-workers, support group communities and healthcare professionals to support you, many fun and unifying events were formed, thereby allowing people to learn about and help find answers and possibly a cure. With every step taken, we build a collective spirit and celebrate the power of our community. We may have a voice disorder, but our community has been talking with one loud and clear voice. Walk for Talk brings hope for the future and a sense of belonging and unity. Thank you again for another great event, where we exceeded all expectations and reached the highest level of success in fundraising. We harness our strength with grit, passion, and determination so that others have hope and the realization that they are not alone.

IN-PERSON WALK EVENTS

Thank you to all of our Team leaders who hosted in-person events to support the 4th Annual Walk for Talk! We look forward to even more for the 5th Annual Walk for Talk which will take place October 10-13, 2024.

THE IMPACT OF VOICE DISORDERS

The term dysphonia refers to having an abnormal voice. Most people think of vocal issues as a temporary problem like laryngitis, but there are numerous long-term voice disorders, often with no known cause, limited or no treatments options, and no cure. This can completely change one's life, affecting everything from relationships to careers and even simple things like talking on the phone or ordering at a drive-thru restaurant. Identity is often intertwined with our ability to communicate. When you have a voice disorder, the symptoms may alter your voice's volume, pitch, and intonation. This may change how your messages are conveyed and even received, causing frustration to both the speaker and the listener.