The Quinntessential Event Company is hosting a free “Kayak to end Kawasaki Disease” family event at Coolidge Park, Saturday, Sep. 12, and will include kayak, canoe and stand up paddle board races along with an afternoon concert in the park featuring singer/songwriter Lily Nelsen.
Kawasaki Disease, also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is a serious illness characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body that primarily affects young children and infants.
There is no specific test for KD; doctors make a clinical diagnosis based on a collection of symptoms and physical findings. Early symptoms of KD include fever that lasts for five or more days, rash, often worse in the groin area, red bloodshot eyes, without drainage or crusting, bright red, swollen, cracked lips, "strawberry"• tongue, which appears with shiny bright red spots after the top coating sloughs off, swollen hands and feet and redness of the palms and soles of the feet, swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
Ms. Nelsen, a Kawasaki Disease survivor has already performed at some of Nashville's most popular venues, including The Bridgestone Arena, The Listening Room, The Row and Opry Mills. Ms. Nelsen has used her talents to create a compilation CD that raises money for the Kawasaki Disease Foundation and is a teen representative for Heart Songs for Veterans.
Participation is free but preregistration is required at www.Kayaktoend.edgereg.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available and volunteers are needed for day of event assistance. For information, contact Mindy Quinn at 719-357-8120 or email thequinntessentialeventcompany@gmail.com.