1in100 Eye Opener Events Target Heart Defects and Heart Disease in Children

WHAT:           ONE DAY. ONE MISSION. 100 EVENTS. This Valentine’s Weekend, February 13, 2010, thousands of people will be opening their eyes to the prevalence and impact of congenital heart defects (CHD) and heart disease in children.

100 global events mark the wind-down of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, reinforcing the crusade against heart disease and heart defects in children as a year-round 24/7 battle. There are no rules – these events are personalized to advocates everywhere who are the front lines and want to share what they know about the world’s most common birth defect.  1in100 babies born are afflicted with a congenital heart defect. 10 percent of these children will not live to see their first birthday.

Events will honor heart warriors, heart angels, families and medical professionals – those who are doing more to change the face of heart disease in children. The events benefit a variety of causes supporting CHD research and support for families.

WHEN:           Saturday, February 13, 2010, 12 am – 12 pm 

WHERE:         Sites around the Globe and at 1in100 world headquarters,

Minneapolis, Minnesota

ENGAGE:      Find an event near you at 1in100.org.  

About 1in100: 1in100 is a crusade to combat heart defects and heart disease in children. Founded by the parents of a child diagnosed at two days old with a life-threatening heart defect, 1in100 was started on the principal that only a small percentage of Americans know how many babies and children are affected by congenital heart defects/disease.  1in100 serves as a grassroots banner – for parents, patient advocates, physicians and their circles of influence to generate action toward three main priorities: Early detection (newborn screening), diagnosis and treatment; Better tools (diagnostic and medical devices) for physicians treating the smallest patients; and Improved health care technology to support real-time collaboration and better outcomes for specialists working with CHD patients.

About CHD Awareness Week: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week runs Feb. 7 – 14. It is an annual awareness effort to educate the public about congenital heart defects. Participants include individuals, local support groups, national and local organizations and congenital cardiology centers around the world.

About Congenital Heart Defects: Approximately one of every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect, the most common birth defect in the world. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) occur when a baby’s heart fails to form properly during early pregnancy. There are nearly 40 different types of CHDs. Little is known about the cause of most of them and there is no known prevention or cure. Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect.  More than 4,000 will not reach their first birthday. In the United States, twice as many children die from congenital heart defects each year than from all forms of childhood cancer combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD. Right now, of every dollar the government spends on medical/research funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward CHD research.

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