AANMA Welcomes New Redskins Linebacker And Asthma Activist Chris Draft

news headlines

email to a friend

printer friendly

AANMA Welcomes New Redskins Linebacker And Asthma Activist Chris Draft

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Allergy
Article Date: 12 May 2010

Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), the nation's only family-founded patient education nonprofit organization for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions, congratulates NFL linebacker Chris Draft on his recent signing to the Washington Redskins and welcomes him to the nation's capital.

Draft partnered with AANMA last week to launch the Great American Asthma Challenge - the first-ever national grassroots movement to end asthma deaths and suffering in the United States. A dedicated community activist as well as accomplished athlete, Draft helped kick off the program at AANMA's 13th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill on May 5.

"Chris Draft brings authenticity and conviction to his off-the-field work for families and people with asthma," said Nancy Sander, AANMA founder and president. "Now that he'll be right in our back yard, we look forward to more opportunities to work with him on our mission to end asthma deaths and suffering in the U.S."

The proactive approach of the Great American Asthma Challenge is a way of life for Draft, founder of The Chris Draft Family Foundation and The Asthma Team™. Draft was diagnosed with asthma while attending Stanford and playing for the university's football team. Today he motivates children and adults with asthma to take charge of their health through his foundation. In his keynote speech at Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill he spoke about the importance of a team effort - among patients, their families, healthcare providers, lawmakers and the community - to tackle asthma.

The Great American Asthma Challenge

Every day 10 people die from asthma. Most healthcare providers agree that these deaths are preventable. Patient education, access to care and a healthy lifestyle are proven methods that lead to less severe asthma symptoms, fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits, fewer missed days of school and work - and fewer deaths.

The Great American Asthma Challenge is a self-paced program through which participants weave tried-and-true resources and health guidance supported by the NIH Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma into their daily lives, connecting with a network of others working toward the goal of ending asthma deaths and suffering in the U.S.

Participants log into a new interactive website, take a quick survey to establish a baseline and set goals, then they're off to complete Challenge activities targeted for three levels of users: families, healthcare providers and legislators. Throughout the Challenge, participants see survey results and share feedback. At the end of the Challenge, users take a survey to measure their progress. For more details and to take the Challenge today, go here.

About the Chris Draft Family Foundation

The mission of the Chris Draft Family Foundation is to strengthen communities by empowering families to live healthy lifestyles. The Foundation focuses on seven primary initiatives with overarching themes that stress the importance of education, healthy lifestyles, character development, personal responsibility, self-discipline and physical fitness. For more information, please visit here.

Source
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics

Original article posted on Medical News Today.
Articles not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Medical News Today publishes the latest health news and health videos for consumers and health professionals. It has a searchable archive of over 100,000 health news articles.

< back to medical news

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Send your press releases to