Cystic Fibrosis Foundation May 19 Great Strides Walk -- Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis
Atlantans Expected To Exceed Record Setting $1 Million Raised Last Year
ATLANTA, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Georgia Chapter will hold its 22nd Annual GREAT STRIDES walk. The event will be held on Saturday, May 19th at the IC Courtyard on the Georgia Tech campus; registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K walk begins at 9:30 a.m.
Great Strides is a national fundraising program that aims to raise $40 million in 2012 to support vital cystic fibrosis research, education and care programs. It is the CF Foundation's largest national event. The Atlanta chapter of the Foundation raised a record $1 million at the Atlanta Great Strides walk in 2011, the largest walk across the country.
The money raised by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has resulted in significant new drug therapies such as Kalydeco for CF patients. "The CF Foundation is proud to have played an important role in the research and development of Kalydeco," said Scot Rittenbaum, executive director of the Atlanta CFF chapter. "Kalydeco is a breakthrough because it is the first drug to address the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. But this is only a start. The Foundation is supporting ongoing research on many promising new drugs which will eventually lead to a cure for this disease."
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). Approximately 10 million more Americans are genetic carriers. Life expectancy for CF patients has more than doubled to 38+ years in the last few decades thanks to medical research, and continues to increase.
The May 19 Atlanta Great Strides Walk is supported by Abbott Pharmaceuticals, ARRIS, Choate Construction, Chubb Insurance, Genentech, Gilead, Hill-Rom, and Snellings Walters. Everyone is encouraged to support Great Strides, call the CF Foundation's Atlanta Chapter at 404-325-6973, or visit http://greatstrides.cff.org
SOURCE The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
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