For Immediate Release
October 6, 2008
Local Breath of Life Walks Raises More Than $70,000
Approximately 800 local residents participate in one of Breathe California’s two Bay Area 5K walks to help raise money to fight lung disease and promote clean air.San Francisco , Calif. – While this past weekend saw fall’s first rain, the weather couldn’t stop Breathe California’s drive to fight lung disease. On Saturday morning, 800 local residents ventured out to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and West Valley College in Saratoga to participate in the 7 th annual Breath of Life Walk, raising more than $70,000 (and counting) for the organization’s local health programs.
"As an asthmatic and a mother of an asthmatic, I know just how seriously lung disease can affect your life," said Luna Salaver, five-time Breath of Life walker. "The Breath of Life Walk is a fun and informative way to help build awareness about lung disease and get youth, families and the community involved."
Each fall, Breathe California hosts the Breath of Life Walk at locations in San Francisco and Saratoga to support its wide array of lung disease, tobacco control and clean air programs. The event attracts lung disease patients, clean air advocates and other concerned citizens from across the Bay Area, who come together to raise money and awareness of important lung health issues. Furthermore, 100% of the money raised at the Breath of Life Walk remains here in the Bay Area to support local education, advocacy and patient services.
Among this year’s top fundraisers were teams from Skyline College in San Bruno ($3,240 raised) and Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara’s Pulmonary Department ($1,395 raised). The largest team came from Lincoln High School in San Francisco, with more than 70 students walking and fundraising.
“We are very grateful for the broad level of support we’ve received from our many partners in the community,” said Steve French, who helped organize the Saratoga event. “Without them – and the countless of families who came out and fundraised – we would not have been able to raise as much money as we did for important lung health programs.”
In addition to the lesiurley 5K walk, walkers were welcomed to a festive atmosphere which included a free breakfast, on-site music, a number of prizes, and a number of interactive health displays and booths. For the first time this year, the San Francisco walk also included an early Halloween Costume Contest for kids while the San Jose walk featured an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Exhibition in honor of the National AFV Day Odyssey.
The 2008 Breath of Life Walk was proudly sponsored by InterMune, Toyota , The Bay Area Air quality Management District, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Evans O’Brien, Meriwest Credit Union, Pacific Service Credit Union, Fresh Choice, CBS 5/the CW Bay Area, 107.7 The Bone, KRTY 95.3 FM, and the San Francisco Examiner. To learn more about the fall walk-a-thon, please visit www.BreathofLifeWalk.org or call 1-877-3-BREATHE.
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