For Immediate Release

Contact: info@stopsarcoidosis.org

THE FOUNDATION FOR SARCOIDOSIS RESEARCH ANNOUNCES 2009 RECOGNITION AWARDS
AT K.I.S.S. CHICAGO 2009

Chicago, IL (2 February 2008) On Saturday, February 7th, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) launched the annual nationwide education and awareness campaign, Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis® (K.I.S.S.) at KISS Chicago 2009. This event brought together more than 450 supporters, patients and local celebrities to raise more than $120,000 to support sarcoidosis research and to launch a week of nationwide activities designed to raise awareness of this devastating disease.  Click Here to See the Auction Items and Raffle Prize Winners.

“KISS Chicago and the annual Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis® campaign provide an opportunity to recognize those working to advance the Foundation's mission to improve the lives of those affected by sarcoidosis and to find a cure for this disease,” said Andrea Wilson, President of FSR (pictured at right with 2009 event Chairs, Anne Coyle, Greg Jagmin and Elizabeth Wood).

2009 Honorees:

• Judith Graham
  Following the death of comedian Bernie Mac this past summer, there was a significant increase in exposure this ‘little known’ disease received from both local and national media. Ms. Graham’s thoughtful interviews with FSR provided accurate information to readers around the country. Her article was the most viewed story on the Tribune’s Web site in 2008 and contributed to a record 50,000 visits to the FSR site in August.

• Doris Peterson
  Doris Peterson was a passionate patient advocate who was dedicated to helping all those who suffer with sarcoidosis. Although she succumbed to complications of the disease in 2008, her legacy of providing support to patients continues through the two groups she helped found in Chicago and the thousands she helped through her legislative triumphs and her work on the FSR Advisory Council.

• Lobelia Samavati, MD, KISS Investigator Award
  Dr. Samavati is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine at Wayne State University. She has extensive experience in both basic and translational research and recently received a jointly sponsored FSR-ATS $100,000 award for her work investigating the role of specific proteins in sarcoidosis as well as genetic abnormalities associated with this disease.  Meet Dr. Samavati.

Sharing emcee responsibility were NBC-5 sports anchors Peggy Kusinski and Daryl Hawks (pictured at right). In 2002, NBC's Chicago Affiliate WMAQ lost well-known sports anchor Darrian Chapman to undiagnosed cardiac sarcoidosis. They thanked the 2009 FSR honorees for committing countless hours and vast personal and professional resources towards raising awareness, raising funds and raising the bar for research in the hopes of preventing another tragedy like the one faced by the NBC family.

Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DO-SIS) is an inflammatory disease that can affect almost any organ in the body.  It causes heightened immunity which means that a person's immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, overreacts, resulting in damage to the body's own tissues. Sarcoidosis is often serious and can even be life-threatening, especially if you do not know you have it.  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.

2008 Campaign Corporate Supporters include:  Sloan Valve Company, NBC-5 Chicago, Modern Luxury Magazines/Chicago Social, Grey Goose Vodka, Burrell Communications Group, and @ World Properties.

KISS Chicago 2009 Co-Chairs:  Anne Coyle, Greg Jagmin & Elizabeth Wood, photograph above with FSR President Andrea Wilson.