About Great Strides in Vancouver
| Great Strides is the national walk of the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It takes place during the month of May
across our country to raise funds in which 90% of every dollar goes to
vital research in the battle against Cystic Fibrosis. Mary Pozsgai is a mother of a child with cystic fibrosis. Seven years ago she set out on a course to do everything possible to give her son a chance at a normal life. She brought the national walk for CF to this Clark County. In those past seven years they have grown from a handful of people raising about $1200 dollars for life saving research, to 200+ walkers and $50,000 last year. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Launches GREAT STRIDES Walks
in 550 Locations Nationwide
Tens of Thousands of Walkers Seek to Raise $36 Million for Life-threatening
Disease
BETHESDA, Md.; April 5, 2007 — The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced today
the kick-off of GREAT STRIDES, a national walk benefiting critical cystic
fibrosis research, education and care programs. GREAT STRIDES, now in its 19th
year, is the largest CF fundraiser and seeks to raise $36 million nationwide in
2007.
Tens of thousands of walkers are expected to turn out at 550 walk sites
nationwide from March to June. Some walks will coincide with National Cystic
Fibrosis Awareness Month in May.
“GREAT STRIDES is crucial to our lifesaving efforts, and every walker who joins
us makes a difference for people with cystic fibrosis,” said Robert J. Beall,
Ph.D., president and CEO of the CF Foundation. “We are making tremendous
progress in fighting this disease, and we are grateful for our volunteers and
sponsors who are a vital part of this effort.”
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects 30,000 adults and children in
the United States. It causes life-threatening lung infections and serious
digestive complications. More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers
of the CF gene. Young people are lost every day to this disease.
With the support of the CF Foundation, there have been significant advances in
cystic fibrosis research and care. The median survival age has improved from
early childhood in the 1950s to almost 37 years today.
Nearly 90 cents of every dollar raised by the CF Foundation is available to fund
CF research and care programs. GREAT STRIDES 2007 is sponsored nationally by
American Airlines®, Gilead, Novartis and Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
To help fight CF, get involved in GREAT STRIDES by calling (800) FIGHT CF or
visiting http://greatstrides.cff.org.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and
controlling cystic fibrosis. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation
funds CF research, has more than 80 chapters and branch offices throughout the
country, and supports and accredits a nationwide network of more than 115 CF
care centers, which provide vital treatments and other CF resources to patients
and families. For more information, visit
www.cff.org.
Contact: Laurie Fink, Director of Media Relations,
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Phone: (301) 951-4422 E-mail: lfink@cff.org
