When Jessica’s daughter, Marlowe, was diagnosed with juvenile myositis after 18 months of uncertainty and several misdiagnoses, Jessica searched for answers and support and found Cure JM. What she found was more than information. She found connection.
“In the days that followed, I began searching for information and support and found Cure JM,” Jessica shares. “Through Cure JM, I connected not only to trusted research and resources, but also to other families, especially other moms, who were walking the same path. That sense of connection made an enormous difference for our family.”
Today, Jessica gives back in multiple ways. She serves as Chair of the Tampa Cure JM Walk Planning Committee, helping lead fundraising, outreach, and coordination efforts that bring together families and supporters across the local community. She also serves as Florida Parent Family Support Network Representative, supporting newly diagnosed families and helping them navigate resources and connect with the broader Cure JM network.
“The connection with other families is what motivates me most,” Jessica says. “Creating opportunities for Marlowe to meet and connect with other kids who are going through the same thing is incredibly meaningful to us. Being part of a community where our children feel understood, supported, and celebrated keeps me coming back year after year.”
For Jessica, volunteering is about ensuring no family feels alone.
“Cure JM means hope, connection, and progress for our family. It means knowing we are not alone.”
“One of my favorite experiences each year is the Tampa Cure JM Walk,” she shares. “Seeing families who may feel isolated most of the year come together in one place, watching the kids feel empowered and celebrated, and feeling the collective support of the community is incredibly powerful.”
Cure JM is proud to recognize Keristin Schnurbusch of Hilliard, Ohio, whose dedication, generosity, and leadership have helped change the lives of children and families living with juvenile myositis.
For seven consecutive years, Keristin has organized Swing Fore a Cure Columbus, a fundraising event benefiting Cure JM. What began as a meaningful way to support friends Zack and Sandi Harrison and their daughter Sydney has grown into a powerful annual tradition that brings people together in support of research, care, and hope. The event has raised more than $200,000 for vital juvenile myositis research.
Keristin’s impact was recently recognized by her employer, Simpson Strong-Tie, with the Barclay Simpson Community Hero Award. This award honors employees who exemplify the company’s core value of giving back and commemorates the philanthropic spirit of founder Barclay Simpson. Each year, up to five employees nationwide receive the award, along with a $3,000 donation to the nonprofit of their choice, a commemorative plaque, and a Community Hero jacket. Keristin selected Cure JM as her nonprofit recipient, extending her impact even further.
Zack Harrison shared, “Keristin’s support has meant more to our family than we can put into words. What she has built through Swing Fore a Cure Columbus is not just a fundraiser. It is a community that stands with Sydney and with every child fighting juvenile myositis. We are endlessly grateful for her heart and her leadership.”
Keristin reflected on why the cause matters so deeply to her, saying, “When someone you love is facing something as overwhelming as juvenile myositis, you want to do whatever you can to help. Organizing Swing Fore a Cure has been my way of supporting Zack, Sandi, Sydney, and Madison, and of giving back to a community that is doing such important work for families everywhere.”
Keristin’s continued leadership is a powerful reminder of how one person’s commitment can create lasting impact. Cure JM is deeply grateful for her seven years of dedication, for the community she has built in Columbus, and for the hope she continues to fuel for families across the country.
Thank you, Keristin, for embodying what it means to give back and for standing with Cure JM families year after year.
To have your fundraiser matched, add “DIY Match” in the memo of your online gift or check.
