The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) will be hosting the 3rd Annual IDF Walk for Primary Immunodeficiency in Boston this Sunday, October 2 thanks to the support of numerous area BioTech companies. The 1 mile walk in Boston Common will serve as an opportunity to gather the immunodeficiency community and raise funds and awareness about primary immunodeficiency diseases.
Recently, the IDF Board of Trustees established a research fund that will fund clinical research projects aimed at directly impacting people with PI. The $250,000 allocated to this fund was made possible as a result the 2015 walk in Boston and numerous other cities throughout the U.S.
Among the local companies that have stepped up to support the event in Boston this year are Haemonetics, ADMA Biologics and Soleo Health. Shire is the national presenting sponsor of the IDF Walk events throughout the United States.
Primary immunodeficiency diseases, or PI, affect children and adults who are born with an immune system that is either absent or severely compromised, which leads to a greater risk of infections. In most cases, there is a pattern of chronic infections before PI is suspected. There are more than 300 types– some are relatively common and others are quite rare and while there are approximately 250,000 people diagnosed with PI in the U. S., thousands more go undetected. Because PI can lead to serious and debilitating diseases, it is critical to get an early diagnosis and proper medical care.
The walk is open to anyone and online registration is still available. Registration opens for the walk at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and the walk will kick off at 11 a.m. at Boston Common.
Full details and registration information are available at www.walkforPI.org or call the Immune Deficiency Foundation directly at 800-296-4433.
Founded in 1980, the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) is the national non-profit patient organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life of persons with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI) through advocacy, education and research. IDF Walk for Primary Immunodeficiency helps create better lives for those living with PI, and fund vital programs and resources for thousands of individuals and families living with PI. The walks bring together a strong community and have raised over $2 million since the first walk in 2013.
Marcia Boyle, President & Founder of the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) was interviewed by CityBizList http://boston.citybuzz.co/article/342474/a-video-conversation-with-marcia-boyle-president-at-immune-deficiency-foundation-part-i
