Mayro Kanning
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Legacy Honoree  Mayro Kanning’s battle with rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) endured through several decades of her life with more than 25 surgeries, including knee and hip replacements, and operations on her neck, back, and hands. But that didn’t stop her from making an impact.
Soon after she graduated from Purdue, she joined the Kroger Company in the mid-1970s, working in the Food Science division until her retirement in 2017. Her impact on others within the Kroger family was impressive, and as her RA attacked her body, she not only gave up much that she loved, but she inspired coworkers and friends to join the drive to find a cure. Through the years, Mayro's efforts led close to – and perhaps exceeded - $1 million in fundraising. Mayro passed away on December 29, and while we miss her smile and her passion, her impact on the Arthritis Foundation continues. Honor Mayro's legacy by joining or supporting team, Mayro's Milers on their team fundraising page. |
In September 2020, at the age of 6, MJ Barr became very ill and was hospitalized for 5 days. He developed a great deal of joint pain and after the illness had passed, MJ continued to have the pain. He was eventually diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
As a child, Donna Haggard suffered with ankle pain until she was in her teens. In 2012, she began having pain in multiple joints including her ankles, toes, fingers, knees, and hips. She was eventually diagnosed with both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
William Beers, MD, is this year’s Medical Honoree for the Walk to Cure Arthritis. Dr. Beers is a Board Certified Rheumatologist with St. Elizabeth Physicians. He received his M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He then completed a residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, followed by a fellowship in rheumatology at St. Louis University.
Karen is currently the Director of Orthopaedics and Neuroscience at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Karen has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati and Master’s degrees in both Health Services Administration and Business Administration from Xavier University. She is also certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security through the American Health Information Management Association. Karen has spent the majority of her professional career in the healthcare industry and has a passion for data and using it to drive decision making. In addition to working for St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Karen is an Adjunct faculty member at Purdue Global University teaching various courses in the Health Administration and Health Information Management curriculums.
Lindsay is the Manager of Business Development for Mayfield Clinic. Lindsay has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from Wright State University and is currently in the Master of Science in Health Administration program at NKU. Lindsay served as Corporate Vice Chair for the 2022 Walk to Cure Arthritis and is excited to return in that role again for 2023. Lindsay lives in Lebanon, Ohio with her husband and two kids.