Bay Area Residents to Raise Awareness of Preeclampsia in Annual Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™
The fifth annual event, taking place on July 18, calls attention to serious pregnancy disorder affecting mothers, babies.
San Jose, CA, May 30, 2015 --(PR.com)-- This summer, Bay Area residents will be taking strides to combat preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition that affects five to eight percent of all pregnancies in the United States. The local Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™, which happens around the country to support innovative research and raise public awareness about the warning signs of preeclampsia, will take place at Hellyer County Park in San Jose on July 18 at 10 a.m.
Walkers of all ages will be able to enjoy the short, family-friendly route along Hellyer Park trails. After the walk, families are invited to participate in the Family Fun Fest, a free, fun and interactive festival featuring educational booths, food, games for kids of all ages and more.
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia supports the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing maternal and infant illness and death due to preeclampsia, a life-threatening disorder of pregnancy. This “promise” includes finding a cure, supporting families, and ensuring education and awareness for all pregnant women.
“We’re walking this year in memory of Cooper Landon Barnett,” said Elizabeth Barnett. “The Preeclampsia Foundation has been a support system for us and a way to honor our son’s memory. Our hope is that one day no mother, no family, will have to worry about this disease.”
This is the fifth Bay Area Promise Walk, which has contributed $93,000 to date toward helping women and their infants who suffer from the devastating effects of preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and other disorders. This year, supporters are hoping to raise another $25,000 for the cause.
Visit promisewalk.org/BayArea for specific information about the Bay Area Promise Walk. Registration is available online. Non-walkers are encouraged to support other individuals or teams. Those interested in forming teams or participating individually are urged to register at the Promise Walk website, though registration on the day of the walk is available as well.
About Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, and affects both the mother and the fetus. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine; other symptoms may include swelling in the hands and face, headaches, and visual disturbances. Preeclampsia affects the mother's kidneys, liver and other vital organs and, if undetected or untreated, can lead to seizures (eclampsia), cerebral hemorrhage, failure in vital organs and death. The cause of preeclampsia is still not fully understood, and the only cure for the condition begins with delivery. Approximately five to eight percent of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia, which, in the United States, translates to approximately 300,000 pregnancies. It is a leading cause of preterm birth, and is responsible for approximately 76,000 maternal deaths and half a million infant deaths worldwide annually. There are several types of preeclampsia, including HELLP syndrome, a particularly dangerous variant.
About the Preeclampsia Foundation: The Preeclampsia Foundation is the only national nonprofit patient advocacy organization for the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Through their national fundraising events the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™ and Saving Grace - A Night of Hope™, the Preeclampsia Foundation works to achieve its mission to provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research and improve health care practices. We envision a world where preeclampsia no longer threatens the lives of mothers and babies. Knowing the warning signs can lead to more timely diagnosis and better outcomes. For more information on the Foundation’s ongoing mission and resources, please visit www.preeclampsia.org.
Walkers of all ages will be able to enjoy the short, family-friendly route along Hellyer Park trails. After the walk, families are invited to participate in the Family Fun Fest, a free, fun and interactive festival featuring educational booths, food, games for kids of all ages and more.
The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia supports the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing maternal and infant illness and death due to preeclampsia, a life-threatening disorder of pregnancy. This “promise” includes finding a cure, supporting families, and ensuring education and awareness for all pregnant women.
“We’re walking this year in memory of Cooper Landon Barnett,” said Elizabeth Barnett. “The Preeclampsia Foundation has been a support system for us and a way to honor our son’s memory. Our hope is that one day no mother, no family, will have to worry about this disease.”
This is the fifth Bay Area Promise Walk, which has contributed $93,000 to date toward helping women and their infants who suffer from the devastating effects of preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and other disorders. This year, supporters are hoping to raise another $25,000 for the cause.
Visit promisewalk.org/BayArea for specific information about the Bay Area Promise Walk. Registration is available online. Non-walkers are encouraged to support other individuals or teams. Those interested in forming teams or participating individually are urged to register at the Promise Walk website, though registration on the day of the walk is available as well.
About Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, and affects both the mother and the fetus. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine; other symptoms may include swelling in the hands and face, headaches, and visual disturbances. Preeclampsia affects the mother's kidneys, liver and other vital organs and, if undetected or untreated, can lead to seizures (eclampsia), cerebral hemorrhage, failure in vital organs and death. The cause of preeclampsia is still not fully understood, and the only cure for the condition begins with delivery. Approximately five to eight percent of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia, which, in the United States, translates to approximately 300,000 pregnancies. It is a leading cause of preterm birth, and is responsible for approximately 76,000 maternal deaths and half a million infant deaths worldwide annually. There are several types of preeclampsia, including HELLP syndrome, a particularly dangerous variant.
About the Preeclampsia Foundation: The Preeclampsia Foundation is the only national nonprofit patient advocacy organization for the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Through their national fundraising events the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™ and Saving Grace - A Night of Hope™, the Preeclampsia Foundation works to achieve its mission to provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research and improve health care practices. We envision a world where preeclampsia no longer threatens the lives of mothers and babies. Knowing the warning signs can lead to more timely diagnosis and better outcomes. For more information on the Foundation’s ongoing mission and resources, please visit www.preeclampsia.org.
Contact
Preeclampsia Foundation
Lauren Burch
408-210-5289
www.promisewalk.org/bayarea
Lauren Burch
408-210-5289
www.promisewalk.org/bayarea
Contact
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