ATS Joins with DRIVE4COPD Campaign to Raise COPD Awareness During Philadelphia Soul Game
Published on May 6, 2013 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (May 6, 2013) - The American Thoracic Society has joined forces with the DRIVE4COPD campaign to host COPD Awareness Night during the Philadelphia Soul's game on Saturday, May 18. The game will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network and available to over 100 million households.
"Raising awareness of the third-leading killer of Americans during this Arena Football League game is just the latest collaboration between the American Thoracic Society and the COPD Foundation," said John Walsh, president and co-founder of the Foundation, which leads the DRIVE4COPD Campaign. "While first and foremost a medical organization dedicated to research and the latest scientific knowledge, the ATS has integrated the patient perspective into its programs in ways that are unique among associations of health care professionals."
The COPD Foundation is a member of the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable, a highly effective partner in the Society's efforts to raise awareness of lung disease and to help patients and their though research, education, and advocacy. Mr. Walsh was the first chair of the ATS Public Advisory Roundtable.
The Foundation's DRIVE4COPD campaign raises awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a serious, progressive disease, which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, that robs people of their ability to breathe. While not reversible, COPD can be treated and its destructive impact on health slowed.
"It is estimated that 12 million people have been given the diagnosis of COPD, but that there are another 12 million who have the disease but don't know it,' said ATS Executive Director Stephen C. Crane, PhD, MPH. "The COPD Foundation's DRIVE4COPD campaign is designed to change that fact, which stands in the way of helping patients breathe better and enjoy a higher quality of life."
The campaign raises awareness through a five-question screening device. To date, 2.7 million people have completed the questionnaire, making the DRIVE4COPD campaign the largest public health initiative dedicated to increasing knowledge of the disease.
During the Soul's game, a public service announcement by ESPN commentator and Philadelphia Soul co-owner, Ron "Jaws" Jaworski and other educational activities will encourage fans and viewers to get screened. Fans will be able to answer the questions at screening sites located in the arena. Viewers can go online and complete the questionnaire and then share their answers with their doctor.
For more information about Drive4COPD or to take the screening questionnaire, go to www.drive4copd.org .
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