The American Lung Association in California will host its 3rd annual Fight for Air Walk on Sunday, October 10 at Crescent Bay Park to raise funds and awareness in support of healthy lungs and healthy air. The Fight For Air Walk is a three-mile scenic route along the beach that attracts participants of all ages.
“Californians breathe some of the worst air in the nation,†says Jill Arnstein Executive Director of the American Lung Association in California – Los Angeles. “In the 2010 State of the Air Report, the American Lung Association ranked Los Angeles as the most polluted city in the nation. Air pollution causes and aggravates lung conditions including asthma, lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic lung disease. We walk because everyone deserves to breathe clean and healthy air.â€
This year’s Fight for Air Walk has attracted participants like Lydia Rojas, whose lives have been drastically impacted by lung disease. In October of 2006, Lydia’s daughter, Stephanie, suffered a fatal asthma attack while in school. Lydia has now made it her mission to raise awareness about asthma and its severity. It is her hope that by sharing her story and encouraging people to walk, other asthma related deaths will be prevented.
Lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and is responsible for one in seven deaths nationwide. Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, killing more people than breast, colorectal prostate, and pancreatic cancers combined. Lung disease is particularly prevalent in California. Ninety percent of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air, contributing to breathing problems for the nearly five million of our state’s citizens afflicted with asthma, including nearly one million children.
Online registration is open until Thursday, October 7 at www.FightForAirWalk.org. On-site registration at will begin at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact David Hechter at 213-384-5864 or visit www.FightForAirWalk.org
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
For more information about the American Lung Association 1-800-586-4872 or www.lungusa.org/california.
