What We’re All About…
This Awareness Run/Walk was first put together by Rachel Hart and Savannah Hollis in 2009. Both have been significantly impacted by cavernous angioma, or malformations of blood vessels in the brain or spine.The condition affects approximately 1 in 100 individuals. These malformations can hemorrhage causing stroke-like symptoms, seizures, and other devastating neurological deficits. Currently, the only treatment for the condition is brain surgery.
While Cavernous Angiomas can become symptomatic at any age, most commonly it is a congenital condition with and the first symptoms appearing between ages twenty to thirty. For example, Savannah was a college senior when an angioma in her brainstem hemorrhaged shortly after her 21st birthday. The angioma and subsequent high risk brain surgery caused Savannah to lose balance, vision, speech, and the ability to swallow. At age 25, Rachel, a local elementary school teacher, experienced severe headaches and seizures. A month later, she underwent a successful brain surgery to remove the Angioma from her temporal lobe.
Angioma Alliance is a nonprofit organization aimed at providing support and raising awareness for the condition. The organization provides much needed support to those affected by cavernous angioma. The Angioma Alliance also promotes awareness and strives to educate the public on the condition. Angioma Alliance also hosts a Bio/Tissue Bank as well as an International Patient Registry which assists the scientific research necessary for the discovery of a cure. Please help the Angioma Alliance continue to make a difference in the lives of so many affected by cavernous angioma by participating in the Awareness 5k Run and 1 Mile Walk Saturday, March 23, 2013. If you are unable to attend, please consider participating as an event sponsor.
For more information, please email Savannah or Rachel at SHollis@angioma.org or RHart@angiomaalliance.org
