American Heart Association

September 29, 2007

Start! Heart Walk
to benefit the lifesaving work of the
American Heart Association

Location:
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

Time:
Fun begins at 7:30 a.m., Walk begins at 9:00 a.m.

Chairperson:
" Rick Van Lith, COO, Boca Raton Community Hospital

Honorary Chairperson:
Frank Brogan, President, Florida Atlantic University

Price:
Free, Must raise $100 to receive a Start! Heart Walk T-shirt

Walkers are encouraged to collect donations

Description:

Start! is a groundbreaking new movement from the American Heart Association. It calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health through walking, so that they can live longer, heart-healthy lives. The American Heart Association’s physical activity movement, Start!, is transforming Heart Walk, the association’s annual fund-raising event, into an experience that will create hope, inspire change and celebrate success. Funds raised through the Heart Walk go toward research, education and community programs to help combat heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 3 leading killers, respectively, of American men and women.

American Heart Association
Greater Southeast Affiliate
33 SE 7th Street, Suite N
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561-394-0170

For More Information please contact:

www.heart.org

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:

• Promotes high-quality, state-of-the-art, specialized care for individuals with CF by supporting and accrediting more than 115 care centers nationwide. These centers, located at major teaching and community hospitals throughout the United States, offer diagnostic services and comprehensive treatment for people with CF and provide support for their families.

• Advances CF research by providing grants to scientists to conduct CF research throughout the world. Grants include new investigator and clinical research, research and clinical fellowships, and student traineeships, among others.

• Supports the advancement of CF laboratory science by funding its own Research Development Program network of 10 research centers at leading universities and medical schools throughout the United States. By applying cutting-edge scientific techniques to targeted research opportunities, these centers are discovering new facts about the disease that lead to new therapies. The CF Foundation was the first voluntary health agency to create and fund such a network.

• Supports and governs the many stages of drug development and clinical evaluation of CF therapies through its non-profit drug discovery and development affiliate, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT). Total funding of CFFT is provided by the CF Foundation.

• Offers matching “awards” to biotechnology companies to encourage them to become partners in the development of new CF drug treatments.

• Carries out an innovative Therapeutics Development Program (TDP), through CFFT, which supports the full spectrum of CF drug development -- from the discovery of a promising drug to clinical evaluation in patients. The dynamic program incorporates the latest in drug discovery technology and brings these potential drugs to the laboratory for further study. If successful, they are then evaluated in people with CF through clinical trials at the CF Foundation's centralized network of 18 centers that comprise the Therapeutics Development Network. The scope of this project is unrivaled by any other voluntary health organization.

• Funds many clinical trials, including those to correct the basic defect in CF cells, fight respiratory infection, thin the CF mucus, reduce inflammation, and enhance digestion/absorption of food and nutrients, among others.

• Supports a centralized laboratory to provide accurate and rapid identification of the lethal Burkholderia cepacia complex bacterium. Proper identification of B. cepacia complex in an individual's lungs decreases the time it takes for a physician to prescribe the best drug therapy.

• Initiates and conducts two annual medical conferences to promote innovation and discourse on the latest knowledge about the disease: 1) the Williamsburg Conference invites researchers to focus on basic CF science and drug discovery efforts; and 2) the North American CF Conference focuses on the latest advances in CF research and care and includes thousands of scientists and medical care professionals. Both meetings generate new ideas for future research strategies.

• Conducts GREAT STRIDES, the CF Foundation’s largest national fund-raiser, at more than 500 walk sites nationwide. GREAT STRIDES, held primarily during the month of May, raises millions of dollars for CF research and care programs each year. The CF Foundation also recognizes the month of May as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, to place a national spotlight on CF and the importance of supporting CF research and medical programs.

• Supports its research and medical programs with the help of more than 300,000 volunteers. These volunteers are part of fund-raising efforts at 80 chapters and branch offices across the country.

• Maintains a Web site, www.cff.org, which provides information on: the diagnosis of CF; living with CF; updates on CF research and clinical trials; legislative action issues; and fund-raising events and volunteer opportunities. The CF Foundation also provides a quarterly newsletter and educational brochures, fact sheets, videos and Web casts, free of charge.

• Remains one of the top voluntary health organizations in the country at efficiently using funds raised to invest in vital medical and research programs. Smart Money magazine has cited the CF Foundation as a charity that “won't waste your money.” Forbes, Science and USA Today have all recognized the CF Foundation for the scope and depth of the TDP and for its active role in working with the biopharmaceutical industry.

• Advocates for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and testifies before the U.S. Congress to encourage more federal investment in basic science research. The CF Foundation works closely with the U.S. Congress, the Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies to speed the development of drugs to treat CF, while encouraging state governments to improve medical coverage programs.

• Works in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Services Pharmacy, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, to provide people with cystic fibrosis access to CF-specific medications. CF Services also provides personalized service, patient advocacy, patient education, and reimbursement support.

Adding Tomorrows Every Day:

Since the defective CF gene and its protein product were discovered in 1989, the pace of CF research has greatly accelerated. Scientists are now addressing the root cause of CF through a variety of technologies including gene therapy.

To bring these life-saving research programs to fruition, the CF Foundation depends on the support of individuals, families and corporate sponsors alike. The generosity of these donors has already enabled scientists to identify the gene that causes CF, to develop new treatments for CF, to correct defective CF cells in laboratory dishes and much more (see Progress in CF Research fact sheet). The CF Foundation’s “pipeline” includes more than 25 promising CF therapy candidates in clinical trials and six others in laboratory development. Any one of them, or a combination, could have a profound impact on the lives of people with CF.

In short, the potential of promising new drug therapies and the range of new drug discovery technologies being applied to CF, with support from the CF Foundation and its volunteers and contributors, are painting a bright future with the likelihood of significant, and even life-saving, new treatments for people with CF.

TOP 10 REASONS
TO SUPPORT THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

1. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is adding tomorrows every day to the lives of those with cystic fibrosis (CF). In 1955, when the CF Foundation was established, children with CF did not live to attend elementary school. Today, thanks to wise investments made by the CF Foundation in innovative research and comprehensive care, the median age of survival for a person with CF is now 35.

2. The CF Foundation is efficient. Forbes and SmartMoney have recognized the CF Foundation for its enterprising and efficient approach to curing a genetic disease. In 2004, more than 91 percent of the revenue raised was available for investment in vital CF programs.

3. The CF Foundation is a leader. The CF Foundation has taken a leadership role in the development of promising new CF drugs. Because CF is considered an orphan disease, most pharmaceutical companies are unlikely to commit resources to develop drugs for CF. The CF Foundation has devised an innovative business model to ensure a commitment to drug development that is unrivaled by any other voluntary health organization.

4. The CF Foundation leverages investments to build a robust CF drug development pipeline. By fostering alliances with dozens of pharmaceutical companies through its nonprofit drug discovery and development affiliate, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc., the CF Foundation helps to bridge the gap between the laboratory findings and drugs for the patient.

5. The CF Foundation has a clear vision. Because of its visionary focus, The CF Foundation has brought top-notch scientists from many disciplines, medical institutions and corporations together under one vital roof; therefore, it sets the scientific agenda and directs the likely paths to developing new and potentially lifesaving CF therapies.

6. The CF Foundation provides specialized care. By funding and accrediting a nationwide network of CF care centers, the CF Foundation ensures that people with this complex disease have access to state-of-the-art care.

7. The CF Foundation has been praised by leaders at the National Institutes of Health. The CF Foundation is an example of a group that works closely with medical researchers to develop drugs and to increase the life expectancy of patients with the disease.

8. The CF Foundation does not receive direct federal funding. The CF Foundation depends upon the generosity of individual donors, foundations and corporations to support its vital mission.

9. CF research opportunities are being presented at a pace that is exceeding the CF Foundation’s ability to fund them.

10. Feel good that you are making a difference. You will be joining a distinguished group of more than 500 caring community members in South Florida who support our mission and are helping to “add tomorrows every day.”

contact:
address: 33 S.E. 7th Street, Suite N
address:
city: Boca Raton state: FL zip: 33432
phone: (561) 394-0170 fax: (561) 391-8669
url: www.AmericanHeart.org

<< back