The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford Announces the 11th Annual Race Against PH to Raise Awareness of Pulmonary Hypertension and Empower PH Patients and Families

STANFORD, Calif., Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford today announced that it will host the 11th Annual Race Against PH in conjunction with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's 6-Minute Marathon. These events provide patients with an opportunity to walk or jog alongside their families and friends, to help increase awareness of the disease, and to help raise money to find a cure.

Both events will occur on Sunday, November 6th at 9:00am at the Stanford University Stadium/PAC 10 Plaza, 295 Galvez St., Stanford, CA.

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association created the 6-Minute Marathon based on a common physician practice for PH patients during which a patient walks a total of six minutes to test his or her tolerance and endurance.  For some patients, walking for six minutes feels like a marathon.  

"Pulmonary hypertension can be a devastating illness that is hard on the body, so for a PH patient, a traditional race often isn't an option.  Our intention for the 6-Minute Marathon is to have everyone complete 400 meters which equals six minutes and step in the shoes of a PH patient," said Rino Aldrighetti, President and CEO of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a rare and often misdiagnosed disease, is a blood vessel disorder of the lungs in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening.

Nathan Diehl, a 35-year-old resident from Mountain View, CA and a PH patient since birth, began walking the 5K Race Against PH four years ago when he learned about the event from family.  Now undergoing treatment, he has reinvigorated energy and plans on jogging the 5K -- a challenge he wouldn't have been able to accomplish even a few years ago.

The Race Against PH was founded in 2001 by a Stanford pulmonary hypertension patient and her family in an effort to promote awareness about this devastating illness. Proceeds from the event benefit the Ewing Family Fund for PH Research at Stanford and The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford.

To participate at the event, please visit http://www.raceagainstph.org

About The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford

The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease was established in 2000 through a generous contribution from an anonymous donor. The Center seeks to enhance the lives of patients with PH by providing the highest level of clinical care, advanced training opportunities for physicians and other health care providers, and participating in clinical and basic science research for pulmonary vascular disease.  To learn more, visit: http://wallcenter.stanford.edu/

About Pulmonary Hypertension Association

Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., PHA is the country's leading organization connecting pulmonary hypertension patients, families, and medical professionals. Its mission is to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension and provide hope for the community through support, education, advocacy and awareness. PHA provides free access to information on its Web site about pulmonary hypertension and facilitates over 200 support groups around the nation, helping many of the estimated 30,000 diagnosed patients in the U.S. To learn more, visit: http://www.phassociation.org

SOURCE The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford