April 19th Parade of Cherubs Illinois Press Release

PRESS RELEASE: Sessions to Address “Parade of Cherubs” in Washington to Raise Awareness for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Kelly Maicon
919.741.9784
kelly@anuevents.com

Sessions to Address “Parade of Cherubs” in Washington to Raise Awareness for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

WAKE FOREST, NC (April 9, 2012) – On Thursday, April 19, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions
(R-AL) will meet with over 250 people participating in a “Parade of Cherubs” in Washington, DC, to raise awareness of a birth defect called congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Sen. Sessions’ two-year old grandson, Jim Beau, is a CDH survivor.
In Jim Beau’s honor, the Senator’s family will take part in the event, and Sen. Sessions
is requesting a Congressional Bill for the benefit of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research.

CDH is a birth defect of the diaphragm. It occurs when the diaphragm fails to form or
to close totally and an opening allows abdominal organs into the chest cavity, inhibiting lung growth. CDH affects approximately one in every 2,500 babies, or about 1,600
babies in the United States each year. It is as common as cystic fibrosis and spina
bifida. Roughly 50 percent of babies born with CDH do not survive. The cause is still unknown.

“CDH awareness and research is very important to me especially because my
grandson, Jim Beau, was born with CDH in 2009,” said Senator Sessions. “This is
a life threatening birth defect that not many people have heard about. Only 50 percent
of the babies survive and that number could and should be higher. Research and awareness are key and we are excited that CHERUBS chose to parade in DC this
 year.”

The parade has been organized through CHERUBS, a North-Carolina based
grassroots nonprofit organization started by Dawn Williamson whose son, Shane,
died in 1999 at the age of six from CDH complications. Children donned in wings
will begin the three-mile walk at 10:00 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial; they will travel
past the Washington Monument and the White House, and conclude at the U.S. 
Capitol Building.

Massachusetts General's CDH Genetic Study Lab will have representatives walking
in the parade. During their visit to Washington they will take blood samples from 
relatives of CDH victims for genetic research.

“We are thrilled to have so many survivors and families affected by CDH as well as the medical community come out to support the cause,” said Dawn Williamson, president and founder of CHERUBS. “Families from all corners of the country plan to participate in the parade, and we expect the number to grow as we get closer to the event.”

Several other cities across the U.S. are hosting a cherubs parade on the same day including, Chicago and Peoria, Ill.; Denver; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; and St. Louis. The St. Louis Fetal Treatment Institute, known for conducting in utero procedures on CDH babies, has been an integral part of organizing their local event. There will also be a national candle lighting in the U.K.

CHERUBS is working with Children's Memorial Hospital to put on the Chicago Parade of Cherubs.  The Illinois Representative for CHERUBS, Neil Rubenstein, is organizinng the Chicago Parade.  Starting at 11:00 a.m., participants will take part in a balloon launch at Oz Park to pay respect to all those Cherubs lost.  Then they will be walk 1.2 miles by the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House (which so many CDH families frequent during their child's often long stay at the hospital).  Close to 70 people (from three states) are expected to participate in this awareness event.

The Peoria Parade of Cherubs takes place on April 22, 2012 in Glen Oak Park beginning 
at 2:00 pm. The event was organized by Kristin Aigner and Sarah Polich. Kristin is an RN 
in the NICU and coordinates CDH Follow up Clinic at OSF St Francis Medical Center and 
is the sister of Christopher, who was born with CDH in 1973. Christopher grew his wings 
and flew to Heaven two months after he was born. Sarah 's daughter, Kalianna, was born 
park, followed by a ceremony to honor Cherubs in Heaven, ending with the joy of being together, refreshments and kids playing in the park.

A virtual parade of Cherubs has been set up on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest so people can show their support by uploading photos and videos whether they are participating in any of the day's events around the world or not.

If you would like to help spread the word, or to learn more about CHERUBS and the upcoming parades, please visit www.cdhsupport.org.