Blow the Whistle on Asthma --
American Lung Association Encourages Californians to Join Statewide Asthma Walks and Fight the Asthma Epidemic

(January 8, 2007, OAKLAND) Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions as 24 million people in the U.S. battle the lung disease every day. American Lung Associations across the state are calling on Californians to Blow the Whistle on Asthma by joining Asthma Walks in their communities to raise money for research, programs and services. Walks are scheduled in California as follows:

• Saturday, April 14, 2007: Bakersfield
• Saturday, April 28, 2007: Ventura
• Saturday and Sunday, May 5 & 6, Nationwide Asthma Walks
• Saturday, May 5, 2007: Monterey Bay Area
• Saturday and Sunday, September 29 & 30, Nationwide Asthma Walks
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: Oakland
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: San Francisco
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: San Jose
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: Sacramento
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: Los Angeles
• Saturday, September 29, 2007: Santa Rosa
• Sunday, September 30, 2007: Orange County
• Sunday, September 30, 2007: San Diego

An estimated 10 million Californians have asthma, a serious lung disease with no cure that restricts the airways and causes wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, asthma can be controlled. But without proper treatment, asthma can be a debilitating and deadly disease.

The American Lung Association is working across California to help people with asthma understand how to manage the chronic lung disease, educate healthcare providers, and reach out to communities at greater risk for asthma.

The American Lung Association offers a variety of programs to help educate people about asthma, including the Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative; Open Airways For Schools; Sesame Street A is For Asthma; Indoor Air Quality Tools For Schools; asthma camps for children, as well as breathing improvement classes and support groups for adults with asthma.

Participants are encouraged to form teams and numerous companies are forming corporate teams. For more information, visit http://www.californialung.org, http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39073 or call your local American Lung Association at 1.800.LUNG.USA.

To register to Blow the Whistle on Asthma, go to the Asthma Walk Web Registration page.

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