The SADS Foundation’s Annual Climb to Conquer SADS to Stop Sudden Death in Children

Spokane, WA, July 09, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Spokane Mountaineers Club in the Fourth Annual Climb to Conquer SADS this weekend at Mt. Rainier, Washington.

Right now, 12 experienced and dedicated climbers are gathering at the 'base camp' at the foot of Mt. Rainier. Starting at dawn Thursday, these climbers will scale Mt. Rainier, carrying flags decorated by families and loved ones affected by SADS conditions. You can read about their families and climbers here: http://www.sads.org/index.php/Climb-to-Conquer-SADS/Meet-the-Climbers-and-Family-Sponsors.html. The funds raised are for research and efforts to save the lives of children and young adults at risk of sudden cardiac death. Genetic arrhythmia conditions kill more than 4,000 children, teens and young adults each year. The SADS Foundation works to save these young lives and to support families who have lost children due to heart rhythm abnormalities.

“We appreciate the support of our families and climbers as they help us call attention to sudden arrhythmia death syndromes. The Climb to Conquer SADS seeks to raise public awareness of these tragic syndromes in the hopes of saving young lives,” said Chris Anderson, M.D., a pediatric electrophysiologist with Northwest Center for Congenital Heart Disease at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington and board member of the SADS Foundation. “Working with the SADS Foundation, my vision is to help build a national infrastructure that includes CPR training of all parents, teachers and coaches, widespread deployment of automated external defibrillators, and markedly improved public awareness of SADS. This climb to summit Mount Rainier is one step in the process of making these goals happen.”

The Climb to Conquer SADS seeks to educate the public and the medical community on the most important warning signs that could indicate the presence of a potentially lethal condition in young people:

- Fainting or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle
- A family history of unexpected, unexplained sudden death in young persons
- Consistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise

Those with a history of these risk factors should see a doctor, as most causes of sudden cardiac death events occurring in children, teens, and young adults can be proactively tested, diagnosed and treated.

About the SADS Foundation
The SADS Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established in 1991 with the sole mission of saving lives and supporting the families of children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities. The foundation facilitates medical decisions, early diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause sudden death by providing educational materials to more than 27,000 patients, doctors, and families around the world each year. In addition, the SADS Foundation encourages heart rhythm abnormality research and initiates public campaigns to increase the awareness about the warning signs of heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause sudden death. Visit www.StopSADS.org for more information.

For a listing of SADS Foundation spokespeople, please contact Laura@sads.org

###