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Adults with Heart Defects Take On Bolder Boulder!

Contributed by: Eliza Fernie on 5/14/2008

Boulder, CO, May 14, 2008 - On May 26th, 2008, seven adults with twelve heart surgeries between them will lead a team of patients, family members, and supporters in participating in the 30th Annual Bolder Boulder. They are running and walking the Bolder Boulder as a group for the second year in a row to raise funds and support for a rapidly growing and severely underserved population of 1.8 million people living with heart defects in the United States - including an estimated 1,400 in Boulder County.

By participating in the Bolder Boulder at varying levels - from an 8 minute mile to brisk walk - these brave medical pioneers hope to show that even after multiple open heart surgeries, those born with heart problems can continue to thrive.

Since its 2005 inception, the Denver-Metro Area Local Group of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) has been one of the most active and consistent in the country, setting records for the highest attendance at a single meeting and the longest continuous activity. When asked why he thinks the Denver group has been able to maintain the original members, draw new people in, bring in educational speakers, and have successful social gatherings, co-founder John Bell says, "It's simple: we like each other."

Members of the local group hail from the San Luis Valley, Boulder, Thornton, and other parts of Colorado, as well as from other parts of the country. They range in age from their 20s to their early 70s. Through sharing their challenges with congenital heart defects and celebrating their accomplishments, they have grown into not only a strong local section of a national non-profit, but a group of friends that seeks to improve each others' lives through leading by example.

An important lesson the Denver-Metro Area ACHA members have come to learn is that physical activity is not only possible, but extremely beneficial. The majority of adults living with congenital heart defects are able to participate in a variety of physical activities. "However," ACHA President Amy Verstappen notes "we must also understand the challenges our community faces; surgery is not a cure - because survivors of heart surgery have an increased risk of developing additional heart problems as they age it is very important that all those born with heart problems continue to get the special care they need throughout their lifetime." This demand is coupled with a shortage of cardiac centers in the United States adequately equipped to care for adults living with complex heart defects.

Dr. Joseph Kay, the director of The University of Colorado Hospital's Adult Congenital Cardiology program, is impressed with dedication and tenacity of the patients participating in the Bolder Boulder, "The Denver-Area ACHA continues to grow, with monthly meetings and activities bringing together survivors from a variety of backgrounds and ages.... I strongly encourage our community to support them in their efforts."

Ms. Verstappen points out that "by participating in this groundbreaking activity our Colorado supporters are leading the way in raising awareness about this county's number one type of birth defect - congenital heart defects."

About Congenital Heart Defects
A congenital heart defect is an in-born problem with the heart's structure. Common problems include a hole in the heart and/or parts of the heart that are too big, too small, missing, malformed or in the wrong place. Surgery is not a cure, so many heart defect survivors face a high risk of additional heart problems. No effort is currently being made to track and study the first generation of heart defect survivors. Research is needed on population numbers, health status and long-term outcomes in congenital heart disease because patients, families and doctors are making decisions without needed information. Funding is needed to meet the growing needs of this new population. Heart defects are three times more common than muscular dystrophy, five times more common than childhood cancer and thirty times more common than cystic fibrosis.

About the Adult Congenital Heart Association
The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) is a nonprofit organization which seeks to improve and extend the lives of those with congenital heart defects. Through education, outreach, advocacy and promotion of research, ACHA serves and supports more than one million adults with congenital heart defects, their families and the medical community. ACHA membership more than doubled in 2007, bringing the number of members to nearly 4,000. For more information about ACHA, please visit www.achaheart.org.


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Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Erin Feese
posted on 5/16/2008 @ 5:22:07 PM
Rated Story
Yay Eliza! Awesome story. Way to spread the word!
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Eliza Fernie

Denver , CO

Eliza Fernie has posted 3 stories and 0 comments since joining on 5/14/2008. Eliza Fernie 's average story rating is 5.
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