The Conquer Chiari Walk Across America

The Conquer Chiari Walk Across America is a series of coordinated awareness/fundraising walks being held across the country on the same day.

When: Saturday, September 26th, 2009. Registration begins at 10:30 AM (in pavilion). Walk begins at
12:00 PM.

Where: The local walk is being held at Colonie Town Park – 71 Schermerhorn Road.

Who: Everyone is invited to participate. A minimum donation of $25 is suggested. Participants are asked to pre-register on-line at www.conquerchiari.org. T-shirts will be provided to those who pre-register by 8/7 and contribute at least $25. Local contact is Jodie Churchill @ 518-329-6152 or churchill@fairpoint.net.

Why: To raise awareness of Chiari Malformation and to raise money for valuable research. All proceeds will fund research through Conquer Chiari. In 2008 the Conquer Chiari Walk Across America raised $170,000 with 90% of the money going directly to fund research.
About Chiari Malformation
• Neurological disorder where the brain descends out of the skull and puts pressure on the spine.
• Affects about 300,000 people in the US.
• Affects people of all ages and races.
• Causes a wide ranging, diverse set of symptoms, including severe headaches, neck pain, balance problems, weakness in the arms and legs, and respiratory problems.
• Patients often go 5 years or more before being diagnosed.
• Many patients undergo traumatic brain surgery to try to relieve symptoms. Surgery fails about 20% of the time and many patients require multiple surgeries.
• Chiari can place a tremendous strain on patients and their families.
• Very little federal funds have been directed towards research.
About Conquer Chiari
Conquer Chiari, known formally as the C&S Patient Education Foundation, is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to improving the experiences and outcomes of Chiari patients through education, awareness, and research. The Conquer Chiari website (www.conquerchiari.org) is the single most comprehensive source of information available on Chiari and related topics. For more information, contact: Rick Labuda, Executive Director, director@conquerchiari.org, 724-940-0116.