I’m reaching out as a son who still feels the loss of my dad, Walter Jr., every single day.

In 2008, my father was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. By the time we found the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR), it was too late. My dad passed away in 2018, never knowing the support and resources FSR could have offered. That’s a pain I’ll carry with me forever—and it drives me to make sure others don’t have to suffer the same way he did.

FSR provides vital support—resources, patient connections, and critical research—that could save lives. I’m doing everything I can to honor his memory and help others, but I can’t do it alone.
As a race car driver, my Dad lived life in the fast lane. Now, I’m racing for a future where no one else faces sarcoidosis in the dark. Every donation helps fund life-changing research, connect patients with resources, and ensure no one fights this battle alone. 

KISS stands for Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis, and that’s what you'll be doing by supporting my page. FSR is the leading nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for this disease and improving care and treatment options for sarcoidosis patients. The funds all go directly to FSR and their programs for improving patient education, supporting patients and their caretakers, and of course, funding research to find better treatment options and one day, a cure.

Please consider helping me reach my goal. Together, we can Stop Sarcoidosis!

- Walt L. Thomas III