Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 21, 2015 -- In honor of National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaims September 9, Hydrocephalus Awareness Day in Chicago. Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of fluid in the brain that can only be treated by brain surgery. There is no cure and it affects over 1 million Americans of all ages. Emanuel urges all Chicagoans to get involved by learning about the condition and supporting the Hydrocephalus Association and their efforts to raise awareness and find alternative treatment methods and a cure.
“I’m grateful that Mayor Emanuel has made this proclamation. There are so many individuals and families affected by hydrocephalus here in Chicago. 1.5 births out of every 1,000 result in babies being born with hydrocephalus, and an estimated 700,000 older Americans suffer from normal pressure hydrocephalus, which is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s,” says Katie Cook, chairperson for the local WALK, co-leader for the Chicago Community Network and mother to 7 year old, Conor, who was born with hydrocephalus and was shunted at one month old. “There is no cure, brain surgery is required, often repeatedly over the course of someone’s lifetime, to treat individuals suffering from hydrocephalus. There needs to be more attention and funds dedicated to research and finding a cure.”
The Hydrocephalus Association has established a Chicago Community Network for citizens of all ages and their families. They also hold the Annual Chicago Hydrocephalus Association WALK to raise awareness as well as funds for research and education. Arthur DiPatri M.D., a neurosurgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, will serve as the Honorary Medical Chair for this year’s WALK, which will be held on Saturday, August 29, at Lincoln Park South Rowing Lagoon. The event will raise funds to support the Hydrocephalus Association’s critical research initiatives and current education and outreach programs. More than 800 people are expected to attend this year in hopes to raise more than $120,000.
Sponsors for the Hydrocephalus Association’s 2015 Annual Chicago WALK include: A Place of Our Own, LLC., Genesis Automation, Murray Millwork, BDO, Cameron Can, Affiliated Control, Clune Construction, and Guardian Angel Armour. National sponsors are: Codman Neuro, Medtronic Neurologic Technologies, Aesculap, Inc., and Sophysa USA.
Please contact Katie Cook at chicagohawalk(at)gmail(dot)com for more information. According to Cook, there is still time to register to participate as a team or an individual walker by visiting http://HAwalk.kintera.org/chicago. Or you can call the HA national office at 888-598-3789 Ext. 12 or via email at walk(at)hydroassoc(dot)org.
About the Hydrocephalus Association:
Founded in 1983 by parents of children with hydrocephalus, the Hydrocephalus Association has grown to be the nation’s largest and most widely respected organization dedicated to hydrocephalus. The Hydrocephalus Association began funding research in 2009. Since then HA has committed well over $3 million to research, making it the largest non-profit, non-governmental funder of hydrocephalus research in the U.S. All Hydrocephalus Association WALKs are volunteer initiated and volunteer coordinated. For more information, visit the Hydrocephalus Association web site at http://www.hydroassoc.org or call (888) 598-3789.
Amanda Garzon, Hydrocephalus Association, http://www.hydroassoc.org, +1 (301) 202-3811 Ext: 26, [email protected]
SOURCE Hydrocephalus Association
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