CPF Fundraisers Bring in Landmark Half Million Dollars in Less Than T...( Events in Malibu Cal. Chicago Ill...),Health

Events in Malibu, Cal., Chicago, Ill., and Rockville, Md.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In less than three weeks, three major fundraising events for the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) have brought in record donations. The events benefiting the CPF collectively raised more than a half million dollars for the non-profit that serves patients and families fighting pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and directly funds research. The lung disease characterized by progressive and relentless scarring has no lifesaving treatments and claims 40,000 lives a year, the same as breast cancer. Private funding is urgently needed because of the lack of federal funds invested in the search for a cure.

The Malibu Butterfly Garden Party, hosted by Deirdre Roney, who has lost eight people in her family to pulmonary fibrosis, was held in late September. Her brother, Roc Roney, and his wife, Debbie, hosted the Breathing is Glorious! (B.I.G.) Ball in Chicago last weekend. This week, Dr. Jerome and Froma Sandler hosted the first annual Lisa Sandler Spaeth Memorial Golf tournament in Rockville, Md., in memory of their daughter who died from pulmonary fibrosis in 2007. The majority of funds raised at these events will go towards urgently needed research into PF.

For a disease that affects a known 128,000 people, federal funding is unacceptably low at less than $18 million a year, making private funding essential to progress in finding treatments.

"This is a landmark time for the CPF. In all our years of raising funds, we've never been as fortunate as we are now to raise so much money in such a short time," said Mishka Michon, Chief Executive Officer of the CPF.

"We are thrilled with the work of so many selfless volunteers like the Roney and Sandler families," said Michon. "They are inspiring to others who have seen someone they love suffer from this tragic disease. With their continued efforts, the CPF will be able to continue t
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