Wescoe Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis XVI

We can’t wait to see you all on Saturday, October 30 at Upper Saucon Township park...same time, same station! This is our 16th year in raising awareness and educating the public about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). It certainly has been a trying two years yet we have not skipped a beat and as the patients, care partners and families work hard everyday, so will we.

We have continued and evolved our programming virtually to meet the needs of the pulmonary fibrosis community. Our 18 support groups, education seminars, community awareness events and advocacy are at its strongest.

In January 2021, we launched a new, one-of-its-kind Pennsylvania IPF Support Network. This support network is the only state-wide network that exists in the United States. We have incorporated Centers of Excellence in Pennsylvania, expanded Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis to continue to be effective in educating, supporting patients and families about this serious lung disease throughout Pennsylvania.

Here are some of our new programs, initiatives throughout the past 2 years:

• Transitioned all support groups (PA, NJ) and education programs to virtual platform
• Expanded resources to our Pulmonary Fibrosis Podcast (held monthly) on all topics dealing with pulmonary fibrosis led by Pennsylvania’s IPF experts
• Created and developed a patient/care partner, and provider checklist to keep all aspects of navigating pulmonary fibrosis pointed
• Created and developed a one page Patient Guide to educate newly diagnosed patients, so that they are well informed and hopeful as they receive important information to move forward with their treatment and support
• Catalyst of PA Senate Resolution 184 designating September 20-27 as Pennsylvania IPF Research and Awareness Week. We’ve had the privilege of this honor throughout the past 4 years.
• Spearheaded Pennsylvania IPF Awareness Campaign 2021, with 9 prominent landmarks lit blue (e.g. PA Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA, Boathouse Row, and One Liberty Place, Philadelphia, PA, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA) 22 pulmonary rehabilitation centers (e.g. Temple Lung Center, Wellspan Health, Geisinger Medical Center, Penn State Health-Hershey)
• Launched our 1st Golf Outing, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Golf Outing in September 2021
• Created a Lung Transplant Educational Series to educate, support patients and families pre, peri and post lung transplant
• Co-Lead with Temple University funded by Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI) for project focusing on educating patients and carepartners about clinical trials

It is our privilege to continue to work diligently in effort to educate and support patients and families living with pulmonary fibrosis, one breath at a time. Please JOIN US on Saturday, October 30 at 9 am for the Wescoe Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis at Upper Saucon Township Park in Center Valley, PA! Visit our website at www.wescoe.org and www.paipfsupportnetwork.org to learn more about our mission. Help us, help others living with pulmonary fibrosis. We, together, can make a difference!

Warmest regards,

Jennifer Wescoe Singley, M.Ed., NCC

Executive Director

Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis