CPF Announces Dates for National Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week as Part of 10th Anniversary

PF Week Set for Sept. 18-24

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today it has set its 2011 National Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) Awareness Week for September 18-24, 2011.  The primary goals of this year's activity are to support the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act (PFREA) that will soon be introduced and to raise awareness of PF issues to Members of Congress and in communities nationwide, while highlighting the progress that has been made in PF since the organization was founded in 2001.

The CPF will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and National PF Awareness Week with patients and advocates on Capitol Hill, and with hundreds of patients and family members reaching out to their own Members in their districts nationwide that week.  Also, members of its newly launched Daughters of PF program which activates women who had/have a parent suffer from PF, will join the advocacy efforts.  

The CPF has been working closely with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to reintroduce the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act which is expected soon.  This historic, bi-partisan legislation would authorize new federal funding to create the first national patient registry for PF, and provide much needed support for research into the deadly lung disease.  

"We are honored that so many advocates are joining us both on Capitol Hill and in their home districts to raise awareness of PF with their members of Congress and their communities," said Mishka Michon, Chief Executive Officer of the CPF.   "Especially in our 10th Anniversary Year, we want to draw attention to the progress realized through our years of work on Capitol Hill while also focusing on the continuing urgency of the need for attention and investments towards a cure."

PF patients, families and those affected by PF can help with 2011 Awareness efforts during the organization's 10th Anniversary by holding a walk or awareness event in their local areas.  "It's not important how big an event is," said Michon.  "It's about spreading the word about PF, raising funding for the disease, and keeping momentum going in Congress."

To support the effort, join the CPF's advocacy campaign, Campaign ACT. For further information, please visit the CPF at www.coalitionforpf.org, call us at 888-222-8541, or email us at [email protected].  

About Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF)
Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring – known as fibrosis -- and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from PF, and there is currently no known cause or cure. An estimated 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. PF is difficult to diagnose and an estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis.  Sometimes PF can be linked to a particular cause, such as certain environmental exposures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, residual infection, or autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. However, in many instances, no known cause can be established. When this is the case, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

About the CPF's Campaign ACT
Since 2002, the CPF has been leading a national advocacy effort directed toward Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to increase research funding for PF and accelerate efforts to find a cure for this devastating lung disorder.  The CPF has also actively advocated for passage of legislation important to the PF community in the areas of Medicare and Social Security coverage. The CPF as well as its National PF Awareness Week have been formally recognized on Capitol Hill, most recently with the passage of H.R. 182 in 2007, which was the first-ever Congressional recognition of the need for increased research funding and improved public awareness of PF in the United States.  This resolution laid the groundwork for the introduction of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act in 2008 and again in 2009.

About the CPF
The CPF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 to accelerate research efforts leading to a cure for pulmonary fibrosis (PF), while educating, supporting, and advocating for the community of patients, families, and medical professionals fighting this disease. The CPF funds promising research into new approaches to treat and cure PF; provides patients and families with comprehensive education materials, resources, and hope; serves as a voice for national advocacy of PF issues; and works to improve awareness of PF in the medical community as well as the general public. The CPF's nonprofit partners include many of the most respected medical centers and healthcare organizations in the U.S. With more than 24,000 members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to advocating for those with PF. For more information please visit www.coalitionforpf.org or call (888) 222-8541.

SOURCE Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis