Pulmonary Fibrosis Walk Surpasses Participation And Fundraising Goals

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Sep 29, 2017, 11:42 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 1,000 patients, families, caregivers and health care professionals from 40 states joined the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's (PFF) inaugural PFF Walk on Saturday, Sept. 9. The event raised over $234,000, three times the original goal of $70,000, and will fund programs and research for the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community.

The walk, a new highlight of Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month in September, was held in Chicago's Lincoln Park while virtual walks took place across the country and in Australia, Belgium, France, and Ireland.

Nearly 1,000 patients, families, and caregivers joined the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's inaugural PFF Walk on Sept. 9 in Chicago. Pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly lung disease affecting 200,000 Americans and resulting in 40,000 deaths annually. The event, a new highlight of Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, raised over $234,000, more than triple the goal set to fund programs and research for the pulmonary fibrosis community.

"We are extremely grateful to the pulmonary fibrosis community, our partners and sponsors, for giving the inaugural PFF Walk a phenomenal start," said Bill Schmidt, President and CEO of the PFF. "We look forward to expanding the event in 2018 as we lead the way to a cure for this devastating disease."

Pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly lung disease affecting 200,000 Americans and resulting in more than 40,000 deaths annually. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year. There is no cure for PF.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2017, its fourth biennial international health care conference will be held from November 9-11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or 312.587.9272 from outside of the US.

CONTACT: Dorothy Coyle
773-332-6201

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation