Raising funds and raising hope, Emma walks on

Enterprise file photo — Michael Koff

Carrying on: Emma Detlefsen went to the state capitol with her parents, Tiffany and Nicolas, in March. On Sept. 19, she’ll be wearing her superhero cape again as she walks across the Brooklyn Bridge to help raise funds to fight lymphedema from which she suffers.

When Emma Detlefsen, of Berne, was honored at the State Capitol in March she wore her purple cape.

“She’s our superhero for the day,” said the senator who invited her.

It was National Lymphedema Awareness Day; lymphedema is a chronic, debilitating disease where fluid builds up in body tissue.

Emma was lauded for “her outstanding advocacy, support, and fundraising efforts for lymphedema awareness.” She and her team, “Emma’s Incredibles,” wore superhero capes at her request for their 2014 walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Born with lymphedema, she has “worked tirelessly,” despite hospitalizations, the resolution said.

In June, the senior class at Berne-Knox-Westerlo charged a toll for cars to get into the school grounds, giving the money they raised to Emma.

In July, Russ Pokorny wrote The Enterprise, “After hearing about the Berne-Knox-Westerlo senior class "prank," which raised $350 for Emma's Incredibles to help fight lymphedema, and the $350 matching donation made by Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, The Kiwanis Club of the Helderbergs was inspired to also make a $350 matching donation.”

Now, Emma, at age 7, is doing it again. She will walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on Sept. 19 in the 5K Walk to fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic diseases with a team that’s in first place for fundraising; Emma raised $500 with a lemonade stand this summer, bringing her total to $3,500, according to a release from the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN).

 

Ready to serve: This summer, seven-year-old Emma Detlefsen of Berne raised $500 selling lemonade, at a dollar a cup, bringing her total to $3,500 for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network.

 

Emma and her Incredibles will be wearing superhero capes as they cross the bridge.

Emma’s mother, Tiffany, said in the release, “She is 7 and she is inspiring children and adults... She’s definitely our little superhero.”

To donate to Emma’s Incredibles, visit lymphatic.donorpages.com/2015NYLymphWalk/ and search for Emma Detlefsen.

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