For Immediate Release

Contact: info@stopsarcoidosis.org

HUNDREDS OF CHICAGOANS JOIN THE FOUNDATION FOR SARCOIDOSIS RESEARCH TO KISS (KICK IN TO STOP SARCOIDOSIS™) THIS FEBRUARY

Chicago, IL (7 February 2004) – On Saturday, February 7th, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) hosted KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) Chicago 2004 at the urban chic MCA Warehouse. In its second year in Chicago and fourth year nationwide, KISS brought together hundreds of supporters, patients and their families to raise more than $100,000 to support the FSR’s independent research programs and other crucial initiatives to raise awareness of sarcoidosis.

FSR Founder and President Andrea Wilson, herself a patient, expressed her gratitude to attendees. “As we begin a new century, we enter a time that may well offer the research breakthroughs and the answers we need for a cure. Thanks to the efforts of the many friends and supporters of FSR, we may soon be able to ‘KISS’ sarcoidosis goodbye.”

Highlighting this year’s exciting ‘KISSino’ theme, celebrity anchorwomen from organizing sponsor NBC-5 joined attendees for a Las Vegas style experience complete with show-girls, wedding chapel and charity gaming. “This cause means a great deal to all of us at WMAQ as we lost our own Darrian Chapman to sarcoidosis of the heart a little over a year ago. He did not even know he had the disease.” said event emcee, Sports Anchor Peggy Kusinski. Ms. Kusinski was joined by Anchor Nesita Kwan whose ‘Health Watch’ segments kicked-off a week of Chicago-area activities designed to raise awareness of this devastating disease.

As part of the Foundation’s mission to provide direct support to critically needed sarcoidosis research, a portion of KISS 2004 proceeds were shared with the University of Chicago. “The UC Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is comprised of world-class physicians and scientists who treat and investigate the causes of sarcoidosis. We are hopeful that this collaboration will bring us one step closer to finding new and improved therapies for sarcoidosis patients,” commented Ms. Wilson.

Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DO-SIS) can appear in almost any organ in the body, but is found most often in the lungs or lymph nodes. It is the most common chronic fibrotic lung disorder in the United States. Typically sarcoidosis victims are young 20 to 50 years old. The effects of sarcoidosis can range from mild, without symptoms, to very severe. It is important to properly diagnose the disease. In some cases it can be fatal. Although sarcoidosis affects 1 in 2500 Americans, the cause remains unknown and there is no cure.

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to improving care for patients and to finding a cure for this disease. Since 2000, FSR has worked to position sarcoidosis as a growing problem on the U.S. health care agenda and established itself as the authoritative resource for patients, health professionals and the public.

2004 Campaign Supporters include:  NBC-5 Chicago, Intrinsic Capital Partners, Fox & Hound, Centocor, McDonald's, Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, Pedersen & Houpt, KPMG and Marsh.