Meet the Myositis Moon Walk Launch Crew
Our planning team is dedicated to promoting the awareness of Myositis. While our disease is rare, we have several Myositis patients in Alabama and Tennessee. We wanted to provide them with the opportunity to meet each other while raising awareness for our disease. What began as a small idea to meet for dinner and a walk at a park, quickly grew to become the launch of the Myositis Moon Walk. it is our sincere hope to make this a yearly event for our community.
Benita Moyers - Mission Coordinator
Benita Moyers, serving as Vice President of Myositis Support and Understanding, battles Anti-MDA5 Dermatomyositis, a rare sub-type that has a poor prognosis due to the high risk of developing rapidly progressive interstial lung disease. At the beginning of April, she embarked on a mission to organize a myositis walk in Huntsville for myositis patients in Alabama and southern Tennessee. Since the walk is in the Rocket City, she excitedly named it Myositis Moon Walk.
Taking the first step, Benita reached out to Mission Multiplier to request their support for the walk. With their enthusiastic affirmation, she swiftly secured the U.S. Space & Rocket Center as the venue. Within two weeks, she secured five generous sponsors and donors, and registered over 100 participants. Her passion to unite myositis patients, their families, their friends and our Rocket City community through this walk is just the beginning. She aspires for it to serve as a beacon, illuminating awareness as she advocates for UAB Hospital to become a Myositis Center of Excellence for the southeast region.
Stephen Moore - Mission Media Host
Stephen Moore and his wife, Shaylee, started their first Muscle Walk Team back in 2015. This team formed teams to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Stephen also helped create the Strength Through Knowledge group. This group of myositis patients have an ongoing Facebook Messenger group where they offer each other support.
In 2022, Stephen and Benita collaborated to hold a mini Myositis Empower Walk. The small group met at a park near UAB Hospital to walk and talk. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, most patients could not join them.
Stephen and Shaylee have a YouTube channel Pelican Point Expeditions. They are the official travel blog for Lake Martin, Alabama! They go on exciting adventures all across Alabama, explore myths and urban legends, and experience unique destinations and attractions throughout the South East and Lake Martin area.
Stephen will interview participants of the Myositis Moon Walk to share with the larger myositis community. Stay tuned for those videos after the walk.
Shaylee Moore - Mission Media Specialist
Shaylee is excited to be joining the Myositis Moon Walk this year as a patient caregiver and media sponsor!
Shaylee and her husband, Stephen Moore, are passionate advocates for raising awareness of Myositis as well as a variety of additional neuromuscular diseases. She spent years working for a nonprofit and raising money for neuromuscular disease research. She was also a co-founder of a fundraising team, Strength Through Knowledge, bringing together patients and families from all across the South East battling Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis.
Shaylee has an extensive background in marketing, photography, and video production. She is excited to capture the magic and joy of the Moon Walk this year!
You will see Shaylee recording and taking videos and photos throughout the walk. Be sure to say hello and record a message.
Mollie Preston - JM Liaison
Mollie is a true myositis warrior. Mollie has Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM). She has served as the Alabama Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. This year, she is joining our team as our Juvenile Myositis (JM) representative.
We are proud to have her on our Myositis Moon Walk team.
Jessica Preston - T-Shirt Specialist
Jessica has been a huge help organizing and promoting the Myositis Moon Walk She organized our T-shirt fundraiser. She also reached out to all the Juvenile Myositis patients and caregivers that she knew to invited them to join us.
Read Jessica's Caregiver story below:
"I am Mollie’s mom as her friends call me. I’m a mom that was thrown into a world of having a child with multiple medical conditions starting at 6 years old.
I had to learn about many things such as methotrexate shots, blood work. holding down a screaming child who didn’t completely understand everything especially after she had multiple failed IV sticks. Now she’s a 14 year old bloodwork pro that tells them what she needs while getting bloodwork.
We are so thankful to have met so many families with Myositis and hope to meet more on May 4th. We are happy to help organize and participate in the Myositis Moon Walk."