1st Annual “autoimmune Walk” La Helmed By Actress Haley Ramm On Behalf Of Aarda

LOS ANGELES - Sept. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- CONTACT:

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1st ANNUAL “AUTOIMMUNE WALK” LA HELMED BY ACTRESS HALEY RAMM ON BEHALF OF AMERICAN AUTOIMMUNE RELATED DISEASES ASSOCIATION

Actress Haley Ramm Invites People to “Link Together” and “Walk for a Cure”

Los Angeles, September 9, 2015 –  The 50 million Americans who suffer from autoimmune disease now have the opportunity to get involved and find a cure through the inaugural Los Angeles “Autoimmune Walk:  Linking Together for a Cure” campaign (www.AutoimmuneWalk.org) sponsored by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA).

Actress Haley Ramm, who recently partnered with AARDA as a Celebrity Ambassador, is urging patients, their families and friends to join her as she, her family, and her friends participate in the walk in Century City on Constellation Blvd. between Avenue of the Stars and Century Park East on Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

“There are more than 100 autoimmune diseases and no one knows the cause or is anywhere close to a cure. My beautiful human of a mother deals with four autoimmune diseases – Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dermatomyositis and Relapsing Polychondritis.  I know it's a lot of letters.  Autoimmune disease attacks your body, your cartilage and organs.  As you can imagine, this would be a difficult thing to wrap your head around and even more difficult to deal with on a daily basis,” explained Haley.  “This means the world to me because my mom means the world to me. I encourage everyone to donate, spread the word and come walk with us on November 8th!”

The Relapsing Polychondritis Awareness and Support Foundation, Inc. (polychondritis.org) is a presenting sponsor of the LA Autoimmune Walk, the most recent to be added in the U.S. Other cities with local walks are Metro Washington, D.C., the New York Tristate Area (September 20, 2015) and St. Louis, Mo. (September 26, 2015).

“AARDA is excited, honored and extraordinarily grateful to Haley Ramm and her family for spearheading the first annual Los Angeles Autoimmune Walk,” said Virginia T. Ladd, president and executive director, AARDA. “These walks are not only instrumental in raising funds for autoimmune research but they are also helpful in linking patients, families, supporters, advocates and other stakeholders together for a shared cause.  The camaraderie and synergy that occurs is just tremendous.”

Autoimmune disease (AD) disproportionately affects women.  Of the 50 million Americans living and coping with ADs, more than 75 percent – some 30 million – are women.  AD is one of the top 10 leading causes of death of women under the age of 65.  It encompasses more than 100 diseases, including relapsing polychondritis, type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Crohn’s disease and lupus.  It is responsible for more than $100 billion in direct health care costs annually.

“50 Million Americans have an autoimmune disease. If every one of the 50 million would donate just $1, we would have the means to fundamentally change the landscape of autoimmune disease knowledge and understanding. Please consider donating.  It’s also a thoughtful way to send a memorial, tribute or holiday gift.  Let’s change the autoimmune world now,” said Haley.

To register for the Walk, make a donation or for more details, please visit AutoimmuneWalk.org.  To become a Walk sponsor, email walk@aarda.org.

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity as a category of disease and a major women’s health issue and promoting a collaborative research effort in order to find better treatments and a cure for all autoimmune diseases.  To learn more, go to www.aarda.org.

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