Community Voices
You are not alone. You are surrounded by an amazing, supportive, community of people who “get it.” They know what it is like to live with vasculitis—the treatment side effects, the anxiety of the unknowns, and the indescribable fatigue—but also, the joy in small victories, the increased resilience, and the appreciation for each new day.
Community Heroes
Ordinary people can become extraordinary in their journey through life — and this has never been truer than for people living with vasculitis. Look around and you’ll see that there are everyday heroes living among us. During Vasculitis Awareness Month the VF will be highlighting a few of the many everyday heroes from our vasculitis community.
Nominate your Vasculitis Patient or Care Partner Hero
Nominations for 2024 Vasculitis Foundation Community Heroes are now closed.
Profiles of the 2024 Community Heroes will be shared in May as part of Vasculitis Awareness Month.
Nominations for 2025 Community Heroes will open in January 2025.
Meet Our 2024 Community Heroes
We asked for patient & care partner hero nominations from the vasculitis community and we were overwhelmed with the number of people whose names were submitted. Judges from outside the vasculitis community chose 11 of the nominees’ to share their personal stories as 2024 Community Heroes. By sharing their stories, they help to increase awareness of vasculitis to those outside of the vasculitis community while providing hope and inspiration to all.
Community Hero Stories Coming Soon!
Annaruth Diller
Takayasu Arteritis (TAK), 2021
“Right now, it’s like this.” – Ajahn Sumedho
Brandi Wiseman
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2019
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Daniel Brusacoram
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2016
“Stay strong, there’s always hope. Don’t give up.” – Daniel Brusacoram
Geraldine & Joe Niziolek
Care Partners
“I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors.” – Joel Osteen
Jasmine McMillan
Takayasu Arteritis (TAK), 2016
“A disease of inflammation created this mind and heart of determination to find a cure for all Generations.” -Jasmine McMillan
Lexey LaBonte
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2021
“No patient is ever too old for a sticker” – Lexey LaBonte
Nina Adams
Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN), 2015
“The two things that helped me move forward after my diagnosis are travel and no longer feeling alone. Figure out what motivates YOU and join one of the VF support groups to help you get ideas about how to get there.” – Nina Adams
Noelle Creamer
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2018
“With every challenge, I grow stronger, more resilient, and more committed to my path of complete wellness.” – Noelle Creamer
Rachel Conder
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2019
“That is what it is. We can’t change it. We just have to decide how we’ll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” -Randy Pausch
Trena Anderson
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), 2015
“We can be so kind when it comes to encouraging others, yet at times we can be the hardest on ourselves. Especially on your tough days, give yourself grace. Remember to be kind to yourself.”- Trena Anderson
Maya Potter
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), 2022
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” -Mark Twain
2024 Honorable Mentions
Aleigha Back
Central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV) – 2021
Ingrid Bencuya
Central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV) – 2023
Harleigh Bongle
ANCA vasculitis – 2023
Cory Brown
Undiagnosed – 1999/2000
Adriana Capellino
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2018
Randal Dawson
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2001
Victoria DeFrancesco
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) – 2022
Caroline Dodge
Care Partner
Erik Dodge
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2020
Carlos Enrique Dominguez
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2023
Kayla Esan
Urticarial vasculitis – 2020
Linda Evans
Care Partner
Sylma Fernandez
Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2021
Humna Jannat
Cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis (CSVV) – 2019
Chloe Jones
IgA vasculitis – 2022
Christine MacFadyen
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2009
Alessia Mancarellas
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2023
Kassidy Martinez
P ANCA Vasculitis – 2020
Brittney Money-García
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2014
Mikkel Petersen
Care Partner
Sherry Sykes
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2023
Heather Tam
Takayasu arteritis (TAK) – 1997
Emma Thompson
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) – 2021
Jason Waud
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2020
Muhammad Umar
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) – 2021
2023 Community Heroes
Thank You to Our Community Heroes Sponsors
