22nd Annual Southwest Florida PSP Support Group Awareness & Memorial Walk Sets Records in Attendance and Fundraising, Signaling Ever-Growing Network of Support

Rapturous applause broke the serene calm at Mackle Park as Cindy MacDonald announced the fundraising total for the 22nd Annual Southwest Florida PSP Support Group Awareness and Memorial Walk: $354,000 — a new record. Cindy took a step back from the microphone to soak in the cheers from the sea of supporters in marine blue T-shirts. Family, friends and neighbors, all united in creating a brighter future for those affected, gathered beneath the airnasium to celebrate their collective strength and the global reach of the community. Twenty-two years in, the Annual Awareness and Memorial Walk achieved two historic milestones: a record-breaking fundraising total and a record 262 attendees, underscoring its ever-growing impact.

The pastel blue sky seemed to mirror the crowd’s quiet strength, uniquely aware of the struggles they all face while maintaining an enduring and loving spirit. Bunny Salisbury, whose husband Charlie died of PSP, led the procession around Mackle Park’s sun-dappled lake. The Salisbury Family Foundation contributed $50,000 to the event’s $100,000 match, alongside The Mary Jane Semcer Legacy Fund and The Linda Ann Phillips Legacy Fund. The circle path was lined with a record number of signs dedicated to loved ones affected by these diseases. The signs, featuring cherished photos of loved ones, are a powerful reminder of the event’s purpose, conjuring a wide range of emotions for attendees. Some could be seen sitting on the grass beside the picture of their loved one, sharing an intimate moment in a peaceful location. Others smiled while chatting in lockstep with those around them, finding a collective strength in their unspoken bond. Shanon Chaiken, a community member whose mother Nancy passed away in January after living with PSP for eight years, spoke candidly about the unique experience of being her care partner.

“This disease, as horrible as it is, brought us together,” Chaiken said. “And that, to me, is immeasurable in love.”

A key factor in the event’s sustained growth has been its ability to draw attendees from across the country. The Walk welcomed participants from 23 states, with nearly 50% traveling from out-of-state. Of the 262 attendees, over 100 were first-time participants. Cindy MacDonald, Southwest Florida Support Group facilitator and long-time walk organizer, feels more invigorated about the Walk’s impact than ever due to the healthy mix of returning and first-time attendees. The people — their gratitude and enthusiasm for being in a uniquely compassionate space — bring her back every year.

“They just want to be around people who get it, who have gone through it and have something in common with them, no matter where they are,” Cindy said. “As long as they want to be here I’ll be here with them.”

After the walk around the lake and before the silent auction, raffle and live music, CurePSP Board Chair and Support Group member Jack Phillips took the stage to recognize Cindy with an award for her fifteen years of dedication to the event. On behalf of the Southwest Florida community, he celebrated her enduring spirit and role as a voice of comfort, noting how she consistently checks in on everyone, extending her thoughtfulness all the way down to small gestures like the placement of the tables and the sandwiches provided. Overwhelmed with emotion, Cindy accepted the award, momentarily speechless at the unexpected recognition.

Returning for his third consecutive year, crowd favorite Jason Dunning, Gulf Coast News meteorologist and Southwest Florida native, addressed the crowd with heartfelt remarks about how deeply moved he is by this community. He praised their powerful display of determination and unity in the ongoing march toward a cure. Recognizing the power of awareness, Dunning waited until Friday’s peak viewership to promote the Walk.

“It's just amazing the difference that awareness makes in terms of being able to raise funds and educate doctors to properly diagnose PSP,” Dunning said. “I think it’s important to create that awareness not just through fundraising but using platforms like mine with Gulf Coast News to make sure that the people know about it.”

The record-breaking funds raised through the community's tireless efforts will directly support three initiatives creating immediate and meaningful change. The Walk will continue funding the innovative work of Dr. Sally Temple at the Neural Stem Cell Institute, who are building disease models from cultures, “neural organoids,” to test treatments and therapeutics; The CurePSP Quality of Life Respite Grant which provides 100 hours of professional, agency-based in-home care to those living with PSP, CBD or MSA; and CurePSP’s new Biomarker Accelerator program, helping to propel compelling ideas out of the lab and into usable and scalable settings. Dr. David Butler of the NSCI updated attendees on the project’s progress, sharing that they’ve secured FDA approval and encouraging early results from animal studies aimed at demonstrating efficacy.

Attendees filed out of Mackle Park with a renewed sense of optimism, buoyed by the growing network of supporters and the tangible advances being made in research and care. For those affected by these diseases, the Walk's twenty-two year legacy offers more than hope: it provides a community that truly understands. With over $1 million raised since its inception and record-breaking momentum building each year, this gathering has become a driving force for a future that families deserve. As the marine blue shirts dispersed through the parking lot, they all carried the commitment to keep walking, keep connecting and keep fighting until a cure is found.

Check out the rest of the photos from the event here.