NOVEMBER 4, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    

Contact: Dorothy Coyle
773.332.6201

CHICAGO BEAR JORDAN HOWARD BRINGS HIS FIGHT TO
PULMONARY FIBROSIS

The NFC Offensive Player of the Week and FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week Joins Forces with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

CHICAGO — Jordan Howard, 22-year-old lead rusher for the Chicago Bears, will announce his commitment to fight pulmonary fibrosis (PF) at the 2016 Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s (PFF) Volunteer Meeting. Howard lost his father, Dr. Reginald B. Howard, to PF at age 52 after a nine-year battle.

The PFF Volunteer Meeting will take place at the Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile (633 N. Saint Clair Street) on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. The meeting is an annual conference for PF advocates, patients, health care professionals and more to share their stories of PF, as well as attend workshops to strengthen their advocacy, leadership, and fundraising skills.  

“My father was an active, athletic man in the prime of his life when he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis,” said Howard. “The diagnosis did not stop him from being a loving father and did not prevent him from hel­ping prepare me for life and the game of football. I believe his diagnosis inspired him to enjoy life and his family even more.”

After starting his first season with the Chicago Bears, Howard was inspired to help raise awareness and funds for the PFF. Howard is participating in the inaugural NFL Cause Cleat Week. During week 13, participating players wear personalized cleats for a cause and then auction them off with 100% of the proceeds benefiting a charity. Howard has chosen the PFF as his beneficiary.

“Jordan Howard offers new hope to the community of 200,000 people fighting pulmonary fibrosis,” said Patti Tuomey, EdD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the PFF. “We share with Jordan an unwavering commitment to find a cure for all who are affected by this disease.”

Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating group of progressive diseases that cause scarring in the lungs, limiting oxygen intake. As a result, the brain, heart, and other organs do not get the required oxygen needed in order to function properly. There is no known cure for PF.

For more information about the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, please visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call the PFF Patient Communication Center at 844.TalkPFF.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2017, its fourth biennial international health care conference, will be held in November 9-11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the U.S.