Exciting News in Support of the Community: Director Letter
It’s the end of August already and Team PH has been busy gearing up for several new projects to support the PH community.
We are so excited to announce that Team PH has formed its first ever virtual Support Group, chaired by PAH patient and Team PH Board member, Lenise Whitley. Lenise and our planning committee have spent the summer planning and will host our first meeting on Saturday, September 18 at 2 p.m. ET. For this first session, CVS Specialty RN Sue Gammill will give a presentation titled, “Making Myself a Priority,” which will focus on the topic mental health. People living with pulmonary hypertension and caregivers alike are invited to attend. Learn more and register today here.
Additionally, this fall Team PH will be launching two new PH patient educational programs. We have been awarded a grant to launch new educational resources to be shared on our website, and we will be launching a “Back to Life” campaign of short videos and blog posts highlighting information on how to return to life. Watch our social media as these two programs develop over the next several months.
Our Let Me Be Your Lung athletes continue racing for our PH community. Carl Hicks participated in the Columbia River Triathlon on August 14 in memory of his daughter Meaghan and in honor of current PH patients. Carl raised a little over $20,000 to support the programs of Team PH, such as our PH Patient Unmet Needs Fund. You and your friends can support Carl here.
Last weekend, John Hartney raced the Leadville 100 on his bike in honor and memory of his LMBYL’s patient, Fran Etzkorn, who sadly also passed away this month. We are saddened to hear of Fran’s passing, as she was a steadfast PH warrior and supporter of Team PH. You can still support John or make a donation in Fran’s memory here.
Team PH’s own Dr. Patricia George has had a busy month racing. She most recently raced the Breck Epic in support of Team PH patients. It was a weather challenged bike race in the mountains of Colorado. You can support Patty here.
Coming up on September 26 Anthony Piatek is running the Quad Cities Marathon in honor and memory of his mother, Mary Jo Piatek. Anthony daily posts his training updates on a dedicated Facebook page. Join us in supporting him by following this training and fundraising efforts here.
There is still time to join our Let Me Be Your Lungs endurance program. Thus far, our athletes have collectively raised more than $26,000 to support our Unmet Needs Patient Impact Fund and the PHenomenal Impact Fund for Global PH Research. If you would like to join our team to participate in a virtual or live race, you can join at teamph.org/join or reach out to our program manager at katie@teamphenomenalhope.org.
Also, if you would like to plan and host a virtual or live event to benefit Team PH, please reach out to me at linda@teamphenomenalhope.org.
We recently received a grant from CVS Specialty to assist with our Unmet Needs Patient Impact Fund. We are so grateful for this grant to continue to assist PH patients. This key program provides non-medication, immediate financial assistance to those who fit the application criteria. As summer electricity costs soar, the need is great to help our community. Please consider making a donation to support our Unmet Needs Fund today–your donation has an immediate impact.
You may make your donation to Team PH online at www.teamph.org or by check to Team PHenomenal Hope, P.O. Box 1115, Beloit, WI 53512. *If you would like to learn about giving options such as stock transfers, IRA rollovers, and other tax advantaged giving, please contact me directly at linda@teamphenomenalhope.org.
At Team PH we are very grateful for the love of the PH community and the support of our corporate sponsors. We are very excited for our future in serving those who live with PH.
Linda Appleby
Executive Director
Team PHenomenal Hope
