MIKE KURDYS WALK FOR THE KIDS FUNDRAISER

Hi-

Welcome to the Lions Beak Lake Camp – Walk For The Kids fundraising page!

My son A.J. was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) as a toddler and received aggressive
treatment at C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital at The University of Michigan. He routinely had fevers in the
102 to 104 degree range. There were many days he could not physically move due to the incredible amount
of pain he was in. His joints would swell up to 2-3 times their normal size and he would cry when you tried
to touch him or pick him up.

A.J. started going to the camp in elementary school and advanced to being a counselor-in-training and
eventually a counselor while in high school and college. He assisted in multiple camps, including the
vision-impaired and hearing-impaired camps. These camps were the highlight of his summer every year
as he loved helping the children.

The JRA camp gave him a place to go each year where he could go and be around children with the same
issues. The camp was instrumental in teaching him how to work with his affliction through education
and coping skills – all while having a ton of fun! As he became a counselor, he learned valuable
leaderships skills and allowed him to develop his compassion, caring and empathy traits that he carries
with him to this day as an adult.

Because of the care he received and the services of the camp, he is now a fully healthy, happy and
successful adult. He is married and he is getting ready to move to Muskegon, MI where he is employed
as an actuary for The Hartford.

The camp made an enormous difference in his life as well as the lives of his family. We thank God that
the camp was available for him and all the other children who get to call it home for a week each year.
In order to give back to this wonderful place, I am taking a week of vacation time and walking from
Mackinaw City to Traverse City (over 100 miles) to raise funds for the kids and the camp. Since I am
covering 100% of the costs for the walk, every dollar you give is going directly to help these kids and
the camp.

Thank you for visiting the page and I hope you find it in your heart to donate.

“One step at a time…one mile at a time…one dollar at a time.
Let’s help these kids!” – Mike Kurdys