Community Corner

Promise Walk for the Preeclampsia Foundation this Weekend

Sign up for Saturday's Cranford charity walk now.

A Springfield mother and daughter team are looking to raise awareness for a disease with a personal meaning to them. And they're looking for your help this weekend. 

On May 19, Stephanie and Marissa Steiners will lead the Promise Walk campaign by sharing their story, and encouraging teams around to raise money for the Preeclampsia Foundation.  


“While preeclampsia put my life and the life of my daughter in jeopardy, I consider us to be the lucky ones,” Steiner said. “I am honored to walk to raise awareness and funds so that all pregnant women and infants are eventually safe from this dreadful disease.”

The Preeclampsia Foundation, a patient advocate organization for the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, holds a their national fundraising The Promise Walk to provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research and improve health care practices.  Organizing this year’s race is a way for the Steiners to give back to the Foundation, which helped them learn about preeclampsia and network with community of preeclampsia survivors.

“I had severe preeclampsia that went undiagnosed which is, unfortunately, not uncommon,” said Steiner.  Seeking more information about her traumatic pregnancy experience, Steiner turned to the Preeclampsia Foundation.

“I was drawn to the Preeclampsia Foundation in 2000 seeking information as to what preeclampsia was, and why no one diagnosed me with it until after delivery although I had so many of the symptoms,” Steiner explained.  “I have learned through the years how lucky I am to be here to talk about my experience.”  

Stephanie has been active with the organization; she organized last year's , which . Marissa is the Preeclampsia Foundation's youngest Promise Walk co-coordinator; she has undertaken the project as her special mitzvah (good deed) project for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. She said she wants to express her gratitude for the lives of herself and her mother, as well as to take steps to combat this disease that threatens her own future childbearing.

The Steiner family will kick off the festivities and share their inspiring story at the 2012 Promise Walk for Preeclampsia on May 19, at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. For more information or to register to walk/donate, please visit www.promisewalk.org/cranford or contact Cranford Walk Coordinator Stephanie Steiner at promisewalkcranford@msn.com

Find out what's happening in Springfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here