Hanover, MA (PRWEB) May 10, 2016
The Massachusetts-based Brain Aneurysm Foundation will lead a delegation made up of brain aneurysm survivors, family members of those affected by the disease, advocates and medical professionals from around the country for a Congressional Advocacy Day on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 to raise awareness of brain aneurysms and seek support funding research into this disease that affects 30,000 a year.
The delegation is scheduled to meet key legislators including Senator Edward Markey (D-MA), Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Representative Renee Ellmers (R-NC). The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is joined in this advocacy effort by The Bee Foundation, a non-profit brain aneurysm organization out of Wayne, Pa., and Medtronic, the largest independent medical technology development company in the world. Medtronic will also be providing each lobbying team with iPads that will have images of brain aneurysms to reference in the meetings, as well as medical devices to help better explain the disease and enhance the level of engagement by the meeting participants.
“Medtronic is honored to join the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, patients and caregivers to help elevate brain aneurysm awareness during this year’s Congressional Advocacy Day among our country’s congressmen,” said Brett Wall, president, Brain Therapies, Medtronic. “Over the years, the Foundation’s research has shed some much-needed light on the issue of brain aneurysms, inspiring us to further innovate in the neurovascular space and expand the treatment options available to at-risk patients.
“This is our fifth year participating in Congressional Advocacy Day and the effort is so important to our mission,” said Brain Aneurysm Foundation Executive Director Christine Buckley. “Legislators throughout the country have been very supportive of looking at funding for research, as well as for awareness and education initiatives, but they often tell us that we’re the first people to bring this disease to their attention. And to have so many people representing so much of the country on this important day is truly gratifying.”
Brain Aneurysms by the numbers:
- Six million people in the U.S. have a brain aneurysm, 30,000 of whom will suffer a rupture each year
- Of the 30,000, 60 percent will survive
- Of those who survive, approximately 66 percent will endure permanent neurological deficits that limit their ability to resume a normal life
- The cost of treating brain aneurysms and caring for those who have suffered a rupture nationally is in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually
- 50 percent of those who have a brain aneurysm rupture are less than 50 years old
This has been a busy time for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. On May 3, 2016, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation participated in the #StrokeTalk as part of National Stroke Awareness Month with the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Director Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Million Hearts Executive Director Dr. Janet Wright, and Kaiser Permanente research scientist Dr. Mai Nguyen-Huynh. On April 21, 2016, the U.S. Senate passed by acclamation Resolution 438 naming September as “National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month,” which was introduced by Senators Markey and Ayotte. And on Sunday, April 21, 2016, more than 1,000 people gathered at Boston’s historic Fenway Park to participate in the 15th annual Arterial Challenge, a 5K Run and 3K Walk to fund research.
The Foundation also just launched a public awareness campaign featuring a PSA titled “Pleased to Meet You” that was created by the award-winning agency, HQ Creative. Link to the PSA Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/brainaneurysmfound
ABOUT THE BRAIN ANEURYSM FOUNDATION
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the globally recognized leader in brain aneurysm awareness, education, support, advocacy and research funding. Now celebrating more than 20 years’ of service, and led by Executive Director Christine Buckley, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation was established in 1994 in Boston, Massachusetts, with a mission to promote early detection of brain aneurysms by providing knowledge and raising awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors; work with the medical communities to provide support networks for patients and families; as well as to further research that will improve patient outcomes and save lives. For more information about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, visit http://www.bafound.org