COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN ASSOCIATION HOSTS 4TH ANNUAL LONG ISLAND WALK
Chronic Pain Disease Rated Worse Than Cancer Unites Long Islanders
To Raise Awareness for Rare Condition
EAST MEADOW, NY – June 1, 2019 – The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) has announced that Saturday, September 7 will be the date of the Fourth Annual Long Island Awareness Walk and Expo for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). More than 500 people suffering with the most extreme chronic pain known to man are expected to gather at Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, for the event that is designed to be a community educational day as well as a fundraiser.
RSDSA supports people and caregivers diagnosed with CRPS (aka RSD), a debilitating and chronic disorder that afflicts more than 2,000 Long Islanders with unrelenting neurologic pain that trumps the pain of cancer, amputation and childbirth. Online registration for this year’s Walk and Expo is ongoing now through August 15. After that date, participants may register the day of the event at Eisenhower Park.
The goal of RSDSA’ s annual Long Island Walk and Expo is to raise awareness, fund better treatments, and ultimately find a cure for this disabling neuro-inflammatory disorder that can happen to anyone following a trauma of any kind. The 2019 RSDSA event on LI is designed to give patients, caregivers, medical experts, therapists, and businesses the opportunity to network in an informal, supportive environment.
This year’s Walk and Expo will take place from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Eisenhower Park’s 1K and 2.5K paths reserved for the event. In addition to almost 500 walkers last year, the 2018 event attracted more than 50 volunteers and more than doubled the money raised from the inaugural walk on LI in 2016.
“Since its inception on Long Island three years ago by three female patients who suffer with severe CRPS, RSDSA’s awareness walks on Long Island have raised more than $150,000 for the organization,” said Jim Broatch, RSDSA’s executive vice president and director. “Our LI Walk and Expo has attracted more than 1,500 attendees to date from throughout the metro NY region, as well as other states far and wide. It has become one of RSDSA’s most successful fundraisers, and is so important to us because our organization relies on these programs for emergency patient services, research, education, advocacy and more. The event is much more than a walk. Our hope is to expand the CRPS community by creating awareness of the disorder, offering support, providing education, creating networking opportunities and raising much needed funds.
CRPS plagues some 200,000 people nationwide; however, it is often under-reported and misdiagnosed. According to one report, only four percent* of medical schools offer dedicated courses on pain, which leaves today’s providers without all of the skills required to detect, treat and manage CRPS. This further contributes to improper treatment for those diagnosed with CRPS and often leads to overall failure in care and treatment.
Registered participants may choose to walk, run, roll or simply just attend this year’s RSDSA event. Anyone can attend regardless of ability. Walk admission for 2019 will cost $25 for adults (ages 12+); $10 for children ages 6-11, and free for children under 5. A free t-shirt will be distributed to pre-registered participants. Day-of admission is also available at the park for $30 for adults and $10 for children.
Educational resources, sponsors, and health professionals will be on hand during the walk, along with entertainment, and craft activities for children. Admission includes a complimentary bagel breakfast. The walk will be followed by a barbeque lunch to encourage socializing with other CRPS patients, care givers, sponsors and medical professionals. Raffle prizes will help generate additional funds for RSDSA.
For more information about the September 7, 2019, RSDSA Long Island Awareness Walk Event, visit: https://www.firstgiving.com/event/rsds/4th-LI-CRPS-Walk
Formed in 1984, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) is an international 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization based in Milford, CT. Its mission is to provide support, education and hope to all affected by the pain and disability of CRPS, while driving research to better develop treatments and a cure. RSDSA, which sponsors similar walks and fundraisers in other cities across the US, aims to improve the lives of those affected by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
For more information about RSDSA, visit http://rsds.org, call 877-662-7737, or email RsdsaLongIsland@gmail.com
Twitter: @rsdsalongisland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/RSDSA/events/?ref=page_internal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rsdsa_official/ #RSDSA2019LIWalk
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*Based on the less than 200,000 people across the United States with the diagnosis.
NOTE: MEDIA INTERVIEWS AND QUALITY IMAGES FROM LAST YEAR’S RSDSA WALK ON LONG ISLAND ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Media Contact:
Stacey Udell
631-379-7784 cell
Stacey Udell
Melville, NY
631-379-7784 cell
https://www.facebook.com/stacey.udell
https://twitter.com/staceyudell
Co-Chair, RSDSA’s 4th Annual Long Island Awareness Walk & Expo for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Pre-Register or Donate now through Aug 15: https://www.firstgiving.com/event/rsds/4th-LI-CRPS-Walk #RSDSALIWALK2019 @rsdsalongisland
Filed under: General Problems
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