The Myositis Association (TMA) is proud to announce the inaugural Marianne Moyer Myositis Leader Award to be presented at the 2024 Heroes in the Fight Awards Celebration on September 7 during our International Annual Patient Conference in Baltimore.
The new Marianne Moyer Myositis Leader Award recognizes TMA volunteers who, like Marianne, lead the way in our myositis community by helping others live their best lives with myositis.
Marianne, who lived with myositis for 25 years, was a tireless advocate for TMA and our mission. She regularly engaged in fundraising efforts to support our work and served on TMA’s Board of Directors for many years, including a two-year term as Chair. She was instrumental in making Myositis Awareness Month a reality, co-founded TMA’s Legacy Society, and orchestrated TMA’s first Myositis Symposium for Physical and Occupational Therapists. Beyond TMA, Marianne also volunteered for a number of other community organizations and even recruited those members in support of myositis awareness.
In 2006, Marianne and another patient, Barbara Kluding, started TMA’s Southwest Florida Keep in Touch (KIT) Support Group, one of the largest and most successful of TMA’s regional support groups. A natural leader, Marianne also mentored many emerging groups and leaders, strengthening TMA’s support network across the globe.
Sadly, Marianne passed away in May as a result of her myositis condition. We are grateful not only for her efforts on behalf of those who live with these devastating rare diseases, but also for the joy and grace she brought to everything she did. We are thrilled that her legacy lives on in Marianne Moyer Myositis Leader Award.
loved her & miss her
Marianne was a great leader. She took me under her wing when I was a newbie. She touched so many lives with her great personality and drive to educate and assist others with learning about our disease and strategies to make life better. She will be missed by all who’s life she touched.