DRIVE4COPD Race Team Uses Celebrities to Raise Awareness for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

NEW YORK, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Belushi, Michael Strahan, Bruce Jenner, Patty Loveless, and Danica Patrick may seem like they have nothing in common, but in fact they are all a part of the DRIVE4COPD race team, driving to raise awareness for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). On November 17th, 2010 Mediaplanet will feature a 12 page stand alone report, within the New York Daily News, on COPD featuring interviews with each of the DRIVE4COPD celebrities.

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The DRIVE4COPD initiative aims to help millions of people affected by COPD by concentrating national attention on this widespread and devastating disease. The campaign includes 44 local "Pit Stop" COPD screening events across 14 U.S. cities with the aim of screening as many at-risk Americans as possible.

New York Giants Superstar Michael Strahan

New York Giants superstar defensive end, Michael Strahan stated, "People might say 'I don't have symptoms or I only smoked a little,' but the fact is you should get tested. It takes five minutes." Michael's Uncle Bud suffered with COPD. "I watched my whole family deal with it. I just wish I could have met him earlier."

COPD Background from the COPD Foundation

COPD affects 20-30 million people, but only 13 million are diagnosed. COPD is the 4th leading killer in the United States and the numbers are growing. Estimates project that COPD will be the 3rd leading killer worldwide by 2020.

Mediaplanet's Report

Mediaplanets Report within the New York Daily News will outline the ways of understanding and preventing COPD. Through the DRIVE4COPD Team, leading physicians, survivors, and associations,  the report will also bring to light early diagnosis, and the common causes of COPD. With participation from the COPD Foundation, Alpha-1 Foundation, New York COPD Coalition, National Blood Lung and Health Institute, American Lung Association, Asbestos.com, Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, SeQual Technologies, Inova Labs, Airguard Medical, Oxyview, Weitz & Luxenberg, Electromed, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Ingen Technologies, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Invacare, and Nonin Medical, this report will cover all aspects of COPD for everyone from the patient to the physician.

Mediaplanet creates focused reports on specific business, healthcare, technology and consumer topics.

For more information go to www.mediaplanet.com or call (646)755-7965.

SOURCE Mediaplanet