SPEEDWAY, Indiana- November 8, 2024- The Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation announced today the successful conclusion of the 2024 Warrior Walk for Relapsing Polychondritis. The annual 10-day fundraising event raised $38,658 to benefit disease awareness and research. One hundred percent of the proceeds are dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and supporting research initiatives that further early diagnosis, better treatment, and finding a cure.
Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a rare and degenerative autoimmune disease that affects cartilage in the body. RP causes a systemic inflammatory response that can be fatal without proper care and treatment.
The 2024 Warrior Walk for Relapsing Polychondritis allowed participants from across North America to walk, jog, or run, any distance, between October 25 and November 3 at any location they chose. Participants then solicited support from friends and family in the form of both monetary donations and walk participation. With walkers hailing states like California, Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, and others, the event garnered 200+ individual donors, including one generous, anonymous donor who executed a “matching challenge” for gifts received after October 31 which helped the organization surpass the $38,000 mark.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support that we received from individuals from across the United States during this year’s Warrior Walk,” says Dave Bammert, President of the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation. “We have so much to learn about RP. Much more research is needed so we can gain a better understanding of this autoimmune disease and develop meaningful treatments, and even a cure, for those who suffer from it. These gifts help us invest in innovative research with institutions like MD Anderson Center, the Penn Relapsing Polychondritis Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, and PURPOSE Biobank at Alleghany Health to improve our understanding of RP. Thanks to the generosity and support of our donors, we are helping to fuel RP and related autoimmune disease discoveries.”
ABOUT THE RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS FOUNDATION
The Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation is a patient-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to facilitate awareness, education, and research to improve the quality of life for patients with relapsing polychondritis (RP) and advance a cure for this disease. Established in 2018, the foundation has since raised over $1 million for research initiatives for 30+ projects involving 20+ collaborative partners. Where there’s research, there’s hope. For more information on the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation or to donate, visit www.polychondritis.org.
