Unique Central California Fun Walk Raises Funds to Fight Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), Life-threatening, Often Misdiagnosed Disease
Clovis, Calif. (PRWEB) October 25, 2016 -- Local residents looking to have some fun while volunteering for a good cause are registering for the Central California O2 breathe Walk, an event taking place on Oct. 29, 2016 that aims to provide hope to local patients, promote awareness and raise funds for a cure for pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH is a life-threatening disease with symptoms that are similar to asthma and other more familiar, but less-threatening, illnesses.
PH, also known as “the other high blood pressure,” is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs that can lead to death from right heart failure. Without treatment, the average survival time for PH patients is 2.8 years after diagnosis. Because the symptoms include shortness of breath and chest pain, PH is often misdiagnosed. As the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) celebrates its 25th anniversary, the nonprofit is looking for innovative ways to raise awareness and funds to fight PH.
“Central California residents are charitable people who like to have fun while they are giving. The O2 breathe Walk offers a unique opportunity to do both,” said PHA Executive Vice President Carl Hicks. “People are extremely excited about this annual walk. When people learn about PH, they’re eager to make sure others know about it, too.”
The walk is a family-friendly, non-competitive one-mile loop around Railroad Park and is accessible to all fitness levels. There is no registration fee, but participants are encouraged to form teams and raise funds to support PHA.
Festivities will kick off with registration opening at 9 a.m. at Railroad Park, 399 W. Alluvial Avenue (Corner of Alluvial and Peach Ave.), Clovis, Calif. The Opening Ceremonies starting at 10 a.m. will include guest speakers Nathan Magsig, Mayor of Clovis, Vijay Balasubramanian, M.D., Hemant Dhingra, M.D., Assemblymember Rudy Salas and PHA Executive Vice President, Carl Hicks. The walk starts at 10:30 a.m. and concludes with live music that will be provided by The Highway 99 Band, as well as a BBQ lunch that will be provided to participants who fundraise $15 or more and PH patients. Over 300 patients, caregivers, family members and friends are expected to attend.
PHA funds support programs for patients and caregivers, medical education and research to find a cure. Founded by patients in 1991 as the world’s first and nation’s largest comprehensive nonprofit PH association, PHA recently received — for the 13th consecutive year — Charity Navigator’s highest rating for fiscal accountability and transparency, placing it in the top half of one percent of all rated charities.
To participate in and learn more about the fundraiser, please go to http://www.o2breathe.org/centralcal.
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., with a growing list of chapters across the country, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the country’s leading pulmonary hypertension organization. Its mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH; its vision is a world without PH, empowered by hope. PHA achieves this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families and medical professionals. Among its programs, PHA facilitates more than 275 support groups around the country and delivers continuing education for medical professionals through PHA Online University. For more information, please go to http://www.PHAssociation.org, @PHAssociation on Twitter or http://www.facebook.com/PulmonaryHypertensionAssociation.
Jordan Jennings, Pulmonary Hypertension Assoc., https://www.phassociation.org/, +1 (240) 485-0768, [email protected]
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