Hanover, MA (PRWEB) May 06, 2014
On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, representatives from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, survivors and family members from fifteen states across the country will head to Capitol Hill in an effort to educate legislators about brain aneurysms and gain support for a resolution to recognize September as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month.
Today, an estimated six million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. Each year, about 30,000 people in the U.S. will suffer from a ruptured brain aneurysm. About 40 percent of those who suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm will die. Four out seven people who recover from a ruptured aneurysm will face disabilities. If a brain aneurysm is diagnosed early with proper screening, it can be treated before it ruptures.
“It is a proven fact that early detection can save lives,” said Christine Buckley, Executive Director of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. “We want Congress to ensure insurance companies are required to pay for screenings for patients as deemed appropriate by medical personnel, and we want to ensure insurance companies are required to provide more coverage for rehabilitative care.”
Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Representative Richard Neal (D-MA) have co-sponsored House Resolution 522, establishing September as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) has introduced similar legislation in the Senate.
In addition, funding for brain aneurysm awareness and research continues to lag. According to 2012 statistics provided by the National Institute of Health, aneurysm research receives only $ 4.5 million in public funding. This compares to $ 3.07 billion allocated to AIDS research, $ 44 million allocated to ALS research and $ 800 million allocated to breast cancer research.
Over the past twenty years, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation has funded close to $ 1 million in grants, helping to advance research that offers hope and support to survivors and their families. The foundation has over 70 support groups established across the county and in Canada to help the family, friends and survivors of the nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. who have suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm. More than fifty fundraising events are held throughout the year throughout the country.
“Every year, we raise private dollars to fund research being conducted by some of the leading medical professionals at some of the most respected hospitals in the country,” continued Buckley. “This work has made a significant difference for individuals diagnosed with an aneurysm. But more needs to be done.”
Throughout the day, representatives from the foundation will meet with members of Congress, providing critical information on brain aneurysms, including facts and statistics, the importance of early detection and the need for greater research funding.
For more information about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, visit http://www.bafound.org.
About the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation was established in Boston, MA on August 19, 1994 as a public charity. The foundation’s mission is to provide support and educational materials to the medical community, the newly diagnosed, survivors, family members, friends and the general public regarding the facts, treatment options, and recovery process for brain aneurysms. For more information, please visit: http://www.bafound.org.
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