News
Minnesota walk, ice cream social this Saturday to raise research funds and awareness of Alpha-1
Fairmont Sentinel
FAIRMONT, Minnesota – This weekend’s Alpha-1 Foundation Fundraiser is intended to raise money to help find a cure for a common but often undiagnosed disease, and also to raise awareness of the condition.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1 for short) is a genetic condition, affecting its victims their whole lives, but often not identified until well after lung or liver disease develops.
In a healthy person, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin is produced in the liver, where it is released to protect the lungs from damage by pollutants. For those with the deficiency, the protein gets stuck in the liver and cannot be released into the body. Lung or liver disease can result.
Starting at 8:30 am Saturday, Aug. 13, supporters and able-bodied Alphas, as people with the condition are known, are encouraged to assemble at Sylvania Park in Fairmont to set off on a support walk around Lake Sisseton. Alphas unable to make the trek will be taken around the lake on a pontoon boat.
Severe weather would cancel the walk, but if there’s just light to moderate rain, the event will go on.
Following the walk from noon until 4 pm, Fairmont’s Alpha-1 support group will host an ice cream social and silent auction to raise money and awareness of Alpha-1 at the National Guard Armory in Fairmont. A bouncy castle and kids’ activities will be available.
Julie Liljenquist, whose teen-age son Joshua has been diagnosed with Alpha-1, organized the event.
This is the second year for the fundraiser and the second year since the the support group in southern Minnesota was founded.
